Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/492

* BBAZIL. 434 BRAZIL. commerce are Bahia, Pernambuco, CearS, Para- hyba, in the north, and Paranagua, Desterro, Porto Alegre, and Rio Grande do Sul, in the south. In 18C" the Amazon was opened to all nations. Twenty-three steamship lines are sub- sidized by the Government, including two from Santos to Hamburg and Genoa. Of six lines between Brazil and the United States, four are British and one is German. CoMiiERCE. Brazil has a larger foreign com- merce than any of the South American repub- lics. In ISOl' the exports from Brazil were valued at about $20,000,000; in 1890 they rose to $140,000,000: and in 1900 were estimated at $170,000,000. The imports amounted to $1 15.000,- 000 in 1890 and $122,000,000 in 1898. Coffee is the staple article of commerce, meaning more to the exports and to the prosperity of Brazil tlian wheat does to the United States. It constitutes about 60 per cent, of the total exports of the country. More than two-thirds of the coffee goes to the United States, and the remainder to Eu- rope. Sugar is next in importance among the exports, and is followed by rubber, cotton, cotton- seed, hides, tobacco, cacao, mat^ (or Paraguay tea ), dye and cabinet woods, gold, diamonds, etc. The imports consist of all kinds of manufac- tured goods, cotton and woolen fabrics, machin- ery, ironware, coal, petroleum, and foodstuffs, including Hour, corn, dressed beef, pork, butter, lard, olive-oil, wines, etc. Great Britain con- trols the largest share (41 per cent.) of the import trade. Germany has recently out- stripped France, having brought in 11 jjer cent, of Brazil's imports in 1899, as against France's 10 per cent. The United States is next in im- portance. In the foreign commerce of the Unit- ed States, Brazil is occupying a place of great, though steadily declining, importance. In 1890 the imports from Brazil to the United States were ne.xt only to those of Great Britain and Germany in value. In 1900 they were behind those from the two countries mentioned, as well as France, declining from $83,000,000 in the former year to $58,000,000 in the latter. The exports from the United States to Brazil de- clined from $14,000,000 to $11,500,000 during the same period. In 1890 the exports to Brazil were five times as large as those to Argentina; in 1900 they were nearly equal. Ba.nki.ng. There are no banks of issue in Brazil, for the reason that the currency has been inflated to such an extent by previous excessive issues of paper money that the (Government has its hands full in trying to reduce the existing volume of paper money without thinking of new issues. The first bank established in Brazil, the 'Banco do Brasil.' was founded in 1808. It led a precarious existence until 1829. Modern banking dates from 1853. when the new 'Banco do Brasil' was established with a capital of .■?3,000,000 milreis as a bank of issue. In 1890 three more banks of issue were established, the 'regional' banks for north, central, and southern Brazil, with a total capital of 450.000.000 milreis, which was to be invested in five per cent. Govern- ment bonds. The banks were given other privi- leges, the most important of which was the ex- emption from import duties of all goods brought in by them. This secured for them an absolute commercial monopoly, which naturally led to great dissatisfaction auKmg the business inter- ests. In the meantime the issue of paper money by the three banks, the national bank, and a, number of other banks which had also been authorized to issue paper money, swelled the total amount of it in circulation to over 700,000,- 000 milreis, resulting in the usual disastrous consequences of inflation. !More than 100.000,- 000 milreis of paper money was destroyed by the Government in 1900, but the amount in cir- culation still remained at the high figure of over 099,000.000 milreis. (old is su])posed to be the monetary standard, although it has been driven out of circulation by paper. tiovEB.XMENT. Brazil is a republic, comprising twenty States and a Federal District under a con- stitution adopted February 24, 1891. The legis- lative power is vested in the President of the Republic, and a national Congress, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of three members from each State and fidiii the Federal District. cle<ted di- rectly by the peojile for a period of nine years, one-third of the number being renewed e ery three years. The House of Representatives consists of 212 deputies elected by popular vote for three years upon the basis of one representative to every 70.000 of the population : no State, how- ever, may have less than four representatives in the Lower House. The franchise is granted to all male citizens above the age of twenty-one — with the exception of beggars, illiterates, soldiers, and members of religious associations. The executive authority is exercised by a President elected by direct popular vote for a term of four years. He is assisted by a Cabinet of six ministers, who preside over the following depart- ments: finance; war; industry, railways, and public works: foreign affairs: navy; interior; and justice. They are not responsible to Congress nor can they participate in tlie debates of cither House, but they may a])pear in their official capacity before the Congressional committees. The President possesses the veto power on legisla- tion, but his veto may be overruled by a two- thirds vote of both Chambers. The judicial power i- vested in a Federal Supreme Court consisting of fifteen members appointed for life by the President with the approval of the Senate. The Constitution of Brazil was modeled after that of the I'nited States, but differs from it in the complete autonomy which it leaves to the individual .States, an autonomy amounting almost to decentralization. The States are governed by their own legislatures and governors, and pos- i^ess their own judicial systems. The Federal Goverimient may intervene in local affairs only for the purpose of repelling foreign invasion, or of preserving a republican form of government, or of enforcing the execution of Federal laws. The public domains within the boundaries of any State are the possession of that State and under its control. A State may subdivide its territory at pleasure or consolidate with another State. Though the control of foreign affairs is delegated to the Federal (iovernmcnt. single Slates have freipiently sent abroad representatives, en- dowed with ail the powers of fully accredited plenipotentiaries, for the purpose of negotiating important commercial treaties and despatching public business. In general there is a disposition on the part of the States to reduce the Federal authority to a minimum, and this tendency is more pronounced in those States that are far