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COSTA RICA.

(Republioa de Costa Eica.) Constitution and Government.

The Republic of Costa Rica, an independent State since the year 1821, and formincr part from 1824 to 1829 of the Confederation of Central Anaerica, is croverned under a Constitution promulgated on December 7, 1871, and modified very frequently since that date. Practically there was no con- stitution, but only dictatorships, between 1870 and 1882 The legislative power is vested in a Chamber of Representatives called the Constitutional Congress, and made up of 43 deputies, being one representative to every 8 000 inhabitants chosen in electoral assemblies, the members of which arc returned by the suffrage of all who are able to support themselves, ihe members of the Chamber are elected for the term of four yeaivs, one-hali retirin<' every two years. The executive authority is m the hands of a president, elected, in the same manner as the Congress, for the term ot four years. A Standing Committee of 5 deputies represents Congress during its recess and advises the President on all matters which would ordinarily come before the Chamber. , ^ . e

President of the BcpubUe.—Ricardo Jimenez. (Elected for four years from


 * \!ay 8, 1910 )' . . n c^ ^ • e a^ ^

The administration normally is carried on by hve Secretaries ot htat^e, who are appointed by, and responsible to, the President They are the Secretaries respectively of the Interior and Police; of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Public Worship ; of Public Instruction, and War and Marine ; of Finance and Commerce ; and a Sub-Secretary of Public Works under the control of Secretary of Finance and Commerce. _

On December 20, 1907, the 5 Central American States, by their represent- atives at a conference at Washington, signed (among other treaties) a treaty of peace by which all the States agree to submit disputed matters to a Court of Arbitration, the judges of which will be appointed by the Congress of each country, the decisions of this Court to be binding on all parties.

Area and Population.

The area of the Republic is estimated at 23,000 English square miles, divided into seven provinces, San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Guana- caste, Puntarenas, and Limon. According to the estimate for December „1, 1911, the population was 388,266, made up as follows :—

Province

San Jose Alajuela Heredia Cartago

Population

Province

121,162 01,707 42,645 59,968

Guanacaste Puntarenas Limon.

Total

Population

33,810 20,054 18,920

388,266

There are about 3,500 aborigines (Indians).

The official returns of births and deatlis for 1910 showed 15,847 births, and 9,723 deaths, increase 6,124 ; for 1911, 16,839 births, and 9,483 deaths,

increase, 7,356. • ^- ^

The immigration in 1911 amounted to 9,537, and the emigration to