Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

The Government, in 1894, placed an impost upon the rental of occupied houses, to be paid by the tenants, to be levied at first only in 220 large towns, with exemption of rents below 300 rubles in the largest and of 225, 150, 120, and 60 rubles in other classes of towns. The rate of tax is progressive, rising from 14 per cent. of the lowest taxable rents up to 10 per cent. on 6,000 rubles in the capitals and on 4,500, 3,000, 2,400, and 1,200 rubles in the other classes of towns. The tax is expected to yield 4,500,000 rubles.

In February, 1894, the Government entered into a contract with the Grand Society of Russian Railways for the acquisition of the 3 important lines belonging to the society, which would go into liquidation. To complete this operation a new 4-per-cent. loan for 113,600,000 gold rubles was authorized to be issued, the bonds to be exchanged for shares and obligations of the Grand Society. The Government also determined to continue the conversion of the 5 per cents. into a unified 4-per-cent. loan, which was interrupted by the famine and the cholera. The interestbearing state bank notes and the third Eastern loan were called in, 750,000,000 rubles at first, and, when the new loan was eagerly taken early in May, then the whole amount of 1,014,000,000 rubles. With the savings from this conversion, which was to be extended to all the 5-per-cent. loans, the intention is to complete the great Siberian Railway, to extend the Central Asian line from Samarcand to Ferghana and toward the foot of the Pamirs, and to build a railroad from Vologda to the White Sea. In the beginning of December the Emperor Nicholas signed a ukase sanctioning a gold loan of 100,000,000 rubles at 3 per cent., to be devoted to the redemption of 5-per-cent. obligations of 11 railroad companies whose property has been taken over by the state. The Army.-The period of obligatory service in the active army is five years in European Russia, except in the coast districts, whence the seamen and soldiers of the marine are drawn. These serve seven years, as do the troops of Turkestan and the Amur district, while the Cossacks of the provinces of Kuban and Terek and the troops of the Transcaspian territory are required to serve only three years with the colors. Also, in Finland, those drawn for service remain three years with the colors. The approximate strength of the Russian army in Europe in time of peace is 30,574 officers and 751,000 men, with 124.706 horses and 2,364 guns. There are 193 regiments of infantry, of 4 battalions each, and 68 battalions of riflemen, besides 132 reserve battalions: 585 squadrons and sotnias of cavalry; 324 field and 44 horse batteries, besides 39 reserve batteries of artillery; 31 battalions in the technical services; and 83 battalions of fortress troops. The war strength in Europe and the Caucasus is calculated to be 1,663,286 officers and men, with 3,768 cannon. The peace strength of the army in Asia is about 75,000 men. The Finnish troops number 236 officers and 6,020 men in time of peace.

The Navy. The Baltic fleet consisted, in 1894, of 8 armored turret ships, viz., the "Peter the Great," " Alexander II," the “Nicholas I," the Navarino," the "Sissoi Veliky" (of 8.800 tons), the "Sebastopol" (of 10,960 tons), the "Petropavlovski" (of 10,960 tons), and the "Poltava'

66

46

(of 10,960 tons), the "Sissoi Veliky" having been launched on June 1, 1894, and the "Poltava," Sebastopol," and "Petropavlovski" being also new ships, mounting altogether 239 cannon and having 28 torpedo ejectors; the casemated armor-clad "Gangut," launched in 1890, of 8,252 tons, with 23 guns and 5 torpedo tubes: 2 monitors, built in 1893; 4 old armored frigates, provided with turrets and mounting 48 guns; 3 ironclad batteries; 12 old monitors; 8 armored cruisers, carrying 269 guns; 2 deck-protected cruisers: 1 casemated ship, of 4,506 tons; 11 clippers, carrying 153 guns; 3 new torpedo cruisers; 3 new armor-clad gunboats for coast defense; 10 unarmored gunboats; 3 school ships; 7 yachts; 35 first-class and 86 second-class torpedo boats; and 14 transports. In the Black Sea there are 6 armored turret ships, built between 1886 and 1894, viz., the " Catherine II," "Tchesma," Sinope," "Twelve Apostles," "Georgy Pobiedonocetz," and "Tre Svetetelia," carrying 166 guns and having 41 torpedo tubes; 2 popovkas; the cruiser "Pamjat Mercurija"; 6 gunboats; 3 new torpedo cruisers; 16 firstclass and 7 second-class torpedo boats; and 7 other vessels, besides 8 steamers of the volunteer fleet. The Siberian fleet consists of 4 gunboats and 4 torpedo boats, and the Caspian fleet of 2 gunboats and 4 paddle steamers. For the Baltic, new ships that have been ordered are 1 battle ship of the type of the "Sissoi "; 1 large cruiser, 12,500 tons or larger, of the "Rurik" type; 2 small torpedo cruisers; and 8 torpedo boats. For the Black Sea have been ordered 1 ship of the "Sissoi" type, 1 of the type of the "Tre Svetatelia " (of 12,480 tons), and i imperial yacht (of 5,557 tons).

Commerce. The total value of the imports of merchandise for 1893 was 463,500,000 rubles, of which 395,100,000 rubles came from Europe, 15,800,000 rubles from Finland, and 52,600,000 rubles from Asiatic countries. The total value of the exports was 613,700,000 rubles, of which 520,400,000 rubles went to European countries, 18,500,000 rubles to Finland, and 74,800,000 rubles to Asia. The values of the chief imports by the European frontiers were: Raw textiles and yarns, 112,524,000 rubles; metal goods and machinery, 45,542,000 rubles; raw metals, 38,905,000 rubles; tea and coffee, 24,169,000 rubles; coal, 14,267,000 rubles; coloring matters, 12,775,000 rubles; hides and skins, leather, and furs, 11,090,000 rubles; spirits and wines, 9,792,000 rubles; sugar, 7,229,000 rubles; textile manufactures, clothing, trimmings, etc., 6,730,000 rubles. Of the exports to European countries, the most important were: Cereals, 261,516,000 rubles; textile materials and yarn, 81,960,000 rubles; timber, 39,937,000 rubles; linseed, 33,373,000 rubles; animals, 12,748,000 rubles; skins and peltry, 11,130,000 rubles; hair and bristles, 7,702,000 rubles; sugar, 4,857,000 rubles; textile manufactures, 4,240,000 rubles: metal goods, 3.846,000 rubles; naphtha and petroleum, 3,234,000 rubles. The import of tea from Asia was 19,196,000 rubles in value: the next most important imports were textile materials and fabrics. The exports to Asia were cereals of the value of 24,755,000 rubles, tissues for 7,949,000 rubles, and miscellaneous merchandise. The imports of precious metals were 26,330,000 rubles from

708

Europe and 4,977,000 rubles from Asia; the exports were 64,000 rubles to Europe and 7,254,000 rubles to Asia.

Navigation. There were 4,564 vessels entered at the Baltic ports, 3,357 at the ports of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and 594 at the ports of the White Sea during 1892; total, 8,515, of which 5,921 were steamers and the number that carried cargoes was 4,379. The total number cleared at all ports was 8,394, of which 7,088 carried cargoes. Of the total number entered, 2,719 were English, 1,305 Russian, 1,084 German, 990 Norwegian and Swedish, 839 Danish, 464 Turkish, 128 Austrian, and 103 of other nationalities. The merchant navy, in 1893, numbered 2,105 sailing vessels, of 447,776 tons, and 326 steam Of the steamers, 150 vessels, of 156,668 tons. plied in the Black Sea, 111 in the Caspian, 57 in the Baltic, and 8 in the White Sea.

Communications.-The railroads in operation at the beginning of 1893 had a total length of 18,426 miles, besides 1,303 miles in Finland and the Transcaspian line of 900 miles. A new line connecting the Caspian with the Black Sea, running north of the Caucasus mountains, was completed in 1893. Of the Siberian Railway, the section from Vladivostok to Spass Koye, 150 miles, was opened to traffic on June 5, 1894. Of the Ussuri line, between Vladivostok and Grafskaya, 41 miles were completed in the summer. At the other end, between Cheliabinsk and Omsk, 160 miles were in operation in 1894. The railroad, 4.696 miles in length, is expected to be completed in 1904, at a total cost of 500,000,000 rubles. The railroad companies owed the Government 944,028,461 rubles on Jan. 1, 1893. Many lines have been recently acquired by the Government.

The post office, in 1892, carried 197,816,000 domestic and 26,521,000 foreign letters, 33,828,000 postal cards, 167,262,000 domestic and 16,690,000 foreign newspapers and circulars, and 14,921,000 letters with declaration of value to the amount of 15,717,797,000 francs.

The telegraph lines of the state have a total length of 120.478 kilometres; the Anglo-Indian line, 3.634 kilometres; private lines, 621 kilometres; total, 124,733 kilometres or 77.460 miles, with 244,893 kilometres, or 152,080 miles, of wire. The postal receipts for 1892 were 88,121,224 francs; telegraph receipts, 45,311,108 francs; the expenses of posts and telegraphs,

[blocks in formation]

S

97,334,936 francs. The number of dispatches was 12,783,473.

Political Events.-Throughout the first half of 1894 the secret police were very busy making arrests of political offenders, mostly young students and subordinate officials Revolutionary printing presses were found in St. Petersburg, in Warsaw, where several revolutionists and several policemen were killed in a pistol fight in an old convent, in Smolensk, and in other places. The authorities discovered an attempt to undermine a chateau in which the Czar was expected to stay during the autumn manœuvres near Smolensk, and a mine also under the neighboring church. For this a large number of engineers and other employees of the railroad running between Orel and Vitebsk were arrested. The daughter and two sons of the late Gen. Andreieff were arrested in May, at St. Petersburg, and from papers found on the daughter a political society of students in various institutions was unearthed.

On May 18 a ukase was issued, taking away from ministers, governors, and the other chief functionaries the power of appointing or dismissing official subordinates of any kind, and re-establishing a special committee, such as existed in the time of Nicholas I. to have control, under the direct supervision of the Czar, of all appointments and removals in the civil service. This important change of system, though called reactionary, was intended to correct the abuses of favoritism and corruption in the exercise of the appointing power, and to protect subordinate officials from the tyranny and caprice of their superiors.

The restrictions against Jews as applied. to citizens of foreign countries have been relaxed by a ministerial decree forbidding the local authorities to molest foreign Jews who have passports properly viséed, permitting them to reside for specified terms in Russia for the transaction of business. Jews from Khiva and Bokhara have been permitted to take up their residence in the province of Orenburg for the purpose of The carrying on trade with the 2 khanates. regulations against the Stundists were made more severe before the death of Alexander III, one of whose last acts was to confirm a decision of the committee of ministers prohibiting Stundist prayer meetings, and declaring the sect to be one dangerous both to church and state.

duties, and $1,899,000 from other sources. The expenditures were $7,153,000, the items being $2.421,000 for payment of debts, $1,668,000 for war. $1,223,000 for the interior, $556,000 for public works, $499,000 for financial administration, $393,000 for public instruction, $194,000 for justice, $132,000 for police, and $67,000 for foreign relations.

The declared value of the imports in 1893 was $1,853,000, and of the exports $7,491,000. The exports of coffee were valued at $5,405,000; of indigo, $1,268,000; of minerals, $103,000; of tobacco, $98,000. There were 217 vessels entered at the ports during 1893. The number of

letters, etc., that passed through the post office was 232,147 in the internal, and 562,870 in the external service. The number of telegraphic dispatches in 1893 was 678,093.

The active army numbers 4,000 men; the militia, 18,000.

Revolution. Three officers of the army, Gutierrez, Ubandin, and Galan, started a revolution against the Government of Ezeta, at Santa Anna, on April 29. A state of siege was proclaimed, and the Government made efforts to put down the rebellion. The people were tired of military rule and restive under the heavy taxes imposed for railroads and other internal improvements, for the extinction of the external and internal debts, and for the increase and equipment of the army. Gen. Antonio Ezeta, the Vice-President and commander-in-chief, hastened to Santa Anna with all the troops under his command and all that he could press into the service. The rebels were recruited from the exiles of Salvador and their friends in Guatemala and Honduras until they numbered 7,000. President Ezeta collected 1,500 men to re-enforce his brother, who had 14,000, after the latter's departure, and followed after by rail, but the train was derailed by the rebels between Acajutla and Sonsonate, on May 3, and 200 were killed and 122 injured. Gen. Herrera, who commanded a division of Gen. Antonio Ezeta's army, revolted, and went over with most of his men and his guns. In the three first battles fought near Santa Anna-at La Alder, Las Crucitas, and El Conacaste-the Government claimed to be victorious, though its troops lost ground in the series of engagements that followed, and were driven back toward the capital, San Salvador, though heavy losses were inflicted upon the rebels at Chalchuaja, and their intrenchments were taken by the Government troops, commanded by Gen. Joaquin Lopez. Antonio Ezeta advanced once more upon Santa Anna, and a desperate battle was fought on May 24, when 600 were killed. Commander Thomas, of the United States war ship" Bennington," landed marines at Libertad to protect the American consulate and the lives and property of Americans and other foreigners. The last battles were fiercely contested. The war lasted only a little over a month, yet in that time, according to the statement of President Ezeta, 3,000 were killed and 7,000 wounded. On the Government side the losses were 2,000 killed and 5,000 wounded.

Gen. Carlos Ezeta, convinced that further resistance would be vain, fled from the country on June 4, on a German merchant steamer bound for Panama. He nominated Dr. Carlos Bonilla to act as President during his absence. The members of his Cabinet and others of his supporters joined him at Colon.

After the departure of the Ezetas a struggle for the presidency took place between Gen. Gutierrez and Manuel Rivas. Their supporters had a pitched battle for the possession of Libertad after it had been looted by the fleeing soldiery of the late Government. Lieut. F. W. Coffin and the United States marines put an end to the looting, but did not interfere in the fight between Col. Ayala, the Governor appointed by Gutierrez, and Ulysses Mora, the nominee of Rivas. The former was finally suc

cessful. The rival candidates for the presidency reached San Salvador about the same time. Rivas, who was supported by a large part of the Indian population, got possession of the palace first, while his troops occupied the barracks and the principal public buildings. Gen. Gutierrez, however, had a more powerful following, and could command more fighting men. Gen. Rivas therefore finally yielded precedence to him. Rafael Antonio Gutierrez proclaimed himself President of a Provisional Government, and on June 24 appointed the following Cabinet: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jacinto Castellanos; Minister of the Interior, Prudencio Alfaro; Minister of the Treasury, Corollo Lemus; Minister of War and Marine, Estanislao Perez. By July the Government was working smoothly and the payment of the domestic and foreign debts was resumed.

[ocr errors]

Gen. Antonio Ezeta, after his last defeat, fought his way to Libertad, where he arrived on June 6, pursued by the victorious revolutionists. With Gen. Leon Bolanos, Major Florencio Bustamente, Col. Juan Cienfuegos, and other officers, he took refuge on the United States naval ship "Bennington," intending to take a Pacific mail steamer for Panama. Commander Thomas was instructed from Washington to keep the refugees, and his vessel was ordered home when the new Government demanded their extradition. Before the arrival of the ·Bennington" at San Francisco the United States Government formally recognized the de facto Government of Salvador and Gen. Gutierrez as Provisional President. The refugees were held by the United States district court in San Francisco, pending the examination of the charges of murder, arson, robbery, and embezzlement, and were finally ordered, on Sept. 22, to be released by Judge Morrow, on the ground that the crimes charged against them were of a political and martial character. The main charges were based on the shooting of Col. Tomas Canas, who had delivered his troops, munitions, and cannon to the rebels: the hanging of several persons during the operations; and the exaction of a forced loan from the International Bank of Salvador and Nicaragua.

SALVATION ARMY. The twenty-seventh annual report of the Salvation Army shows that the number of corps at the end of 1893 was 3,124, and of officers, 10,791; of which 1,213 corps and 4,317 officers were in the British Islands, and the remainder in Canada, Australasia, Jamaica, India and Ceylon, South Africa, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United States, Argentina, Finland, and Italy. A beginning of operations in Japan was contemplated. In connection with the social work were returned 48 rescue homes, 64 slum posts, 12 prison-gate homes, 21 food depots, 32 shelters, 17 factories, 17 labor bureaus, and 6 farms, with the management of all of which 1,046 persons were engaged. The army numbered more than 200,000 soldiers, 10.237 local officers, and 3,258 bandsmen, while 35 newspapers and 8 monthly periodicals were published by it in 14 languages. The total receipts had been £30,848 and the expenditure £30,370. The foreign service fund amounted to £40,932, the

property account to £46,880. The trade department showed receipts of £164,833 and a net profit of £4,437. The balance sheet accounted for £700,405, and a net balance remained in bank of £1,336.

SAMOA, a monarchy in the Pacific Ocean, declared independent and neutral at the Samoan Conference held in Berlin in June, 1889, by plenipotentiaries of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain, who signed a general act providing for the neutrality and autonomous government of the islands. The King is Malietoa Laupepa, who was restored and proclaimed King again, after two years of exile, by the American, German, and British consuls on Dec. 10, 1889. The Superior Judge appointed under the tripartite treaty is H. Ide.

The area of the Samoan Islands is 1,700 square miles. The native population was 35,565 in 1887. There are about 450 whites and 1,000 Polynesian

laborers from other islands.

The foreign trade is conducted chiefly by Germans. The staple articles are copra, cotton, coffee, and fresh fruits.

The imports in 1893 were valued at 1,386,811 marks, and the exports at 642,621 marks. During 1893 there were 81 vessels, of 74,955 tons, entered at the port of Apia. There are 2 American ocean liners and 1 British steamer from New Zealand, in which most of the imports are brought, and there was a German steamship, which was taken off during the year. The German Trading and Plantation Company has the whole trade in copra, which constituted 80 per cent. of the exports, and most of the export trade in other products. This company, which has large plantations, has given up the cultivation of coffee and the ginning of cotton. Of the imports, more than half come from Great Britain and British colonies, mostly on German account.

The revenue for 1893 was £5,995 sterling, of which £4,189 were derived from the native head tax, £77 from the taxes paid by natives to the Samoan Government on boats, firearms, dwelling houses and business premises, traders' stores, and licenses for professions and trades, £523 from the same taxes paid by Germans both to the municipality of Apia and to the Samoan Government, £484 from the same taxes paid by British subjects, £137 from the same taxes paid by Americans, £152 from other nationalities, and £433 from the tax on colored laborers paid by the German Trading and Plantation Company.

Rebellion of Tamasese.-Malietoa is one of several chiefs of clans, and can rely only on the obedience and support of his own people, the Tuamasaga and a part of Savaii. The Samoans generally have refused to acknowledge his rule or to pay taxes to the Government, regarding it as a white men's Government, and the King as a mere puppet in their hands. The King and the Faipule, his council, have been constrained to act at the dictation not of the Chief Justice and the president of the Municipal Council of Apia, who are his official advisers under the treaty, but of the consuls of the 3 powers, who can call for the interference of war ships, and who are ruled only by regard for the commercial interests and for the personal security of their compatriots. The Samoans, who look with contempt upon the ideas and customs of white people and despise their

inferior physique, are ready to accept any king who will rebel against European interference and encroachment. Moreover, they have the habit of engaging in clan feuds, with the concomitants of head-hunting and other barbarities. Hence the rise of a new pretender to the throne every little while, who is supported by his own and allied clans in a fierce conflict with the tribesmen of the King and the savages of Savaii, who delight in slaughter and rapine. In January, 1894, only a few months after Mataafa and a dozen of his chiefs had been exiled to the coral island of Taluit, in the Marshall group, and while 27 others were still expiating in prison their part in the last rebellion, the Tupuas rose to place the younger Tamasese upon the throne, to rule the Samoans in their sole interest, with native counselors only. Tamasese, a brave, stalwart, intelligent young man, did not venture to raise the standard of a pretender, though he went into the war with his people and voiced their complaints against the King and the whites, whom he threatened to drive from the islands. One half of the Tupuas, the inhabitants of the province of Atua, did not join in the revolt, but engaged only in empty declamation and fruitless embassies. Against the people of Aana, who did rise, the cruel troops of Savaii were let loose to cut down the fruit trees, outrage the women, burn the houses, and kill horses, pigs, and dogs.

The rebellious disposition of the natives of Aana had been intensified by the action of the Chief Justice in fining and imprisoning certain chiefs, and the outbreak had been precipitated by the act of the Government, which, at the instigation of the whites, sent troops into the district for the purpose of disarming the natives.

As soon as the rebellion broke out Mr. Ide, at the suggestion of Robert L. Stevenson, had an ordinance passed by the Faipule inflicting severe penalties on any one who took heads. When the troops marched to the front he explained the terms of the new law to the chiefs, and said that it would unfailingly be executed. Nevertheless heads were taken, not only by the warriors of Tamasese, who accepted their presentation, but by the Savaii men, from whom Malietoa refused to accept one offered as a trophy. One third of the King's troops, the Tuamasaga, obeyed the letter of the law, contenting themselves with cutting off the ears of the fallen enemies. ChiefJustice Ide was unable to proceed against the violators of the law, because they were included in the general amnesty arranged by the consuls without his concurrence. The excuse of the consuls was that there was danger of a massacre of the whites in Apia if the war continued.

During March a series of sharp skirmishes took place in which the Savaiians were generally suc cessful, driving their adversaries from their fortified camps into the inaccessible forests on the mountains and ravaging their country. The loss the Government side was 60 killed and wounded, while on the side of the rebels hundreds were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.

on

The consuls went to Aana and finally succeeded in arranging an armistice between the contending parties and the preliminaries of a peace whereby full pardon was to be granted to the rebels on condition that they should surrender 50 rifles, make 20 miles of road, and pay the

fines levied by the Chief Justice that had originally provoked their resistance.

The Aanas were willing to observe the peace and return to their villages but for the Savaiians, who refused to go back to their island and settled in Tuamasaga, on the border of Aana. The German cruiser "Falke" arrived on April 15, and the English man-of-war "Curaçoa" on April 21. When the Savaiians at last promised to withdraw to their homes, after celebrating a peace festival, all save 100 men for the protection of the Government, the Aanas agreed to the terms of the peace and sent in the 50 stand of arms-useless, broken guns-on May 21. The Savaiians did not depart, however, for the people of Atua, angered at the failure of the Government and the whites to rid the island of their hereditary enemies from Savaii, were arming themselves, and threatened to attack the Savaiians in behalf of their brothers of Aana.

When the King sent some of his regular forces into Atua to assert his authority they were received with rifle shots. The King's forces were soon confronted by a large body of rebels. Skirmishes occurred, and robberies and the taking of heads and the maltreatment of women began again. Tamasese headed the insurgent party, which was joined by warriors from Aana. There were said to be 7,000 under arms. The German naval officers sympathized with Tamasese and his followers. Nevertheless, when Chief-Justice Ide and Herr Schmidt, the President of the Municipal Council, joined the consuls in a request for the intervention of the war ships for the re-establishment of law and order, the German and English commanders jointly sent an ultimatum requiring 10 chiefs to tender their submission on board the "Curaçoa" and deliver up 50 guns. The chiefs went through the form, and returned to the rebel camp. The 50 rifles that were surrendered were worn-out weapons, as usual. After the departure of the vessels the rebels attacked a village where Malietoa was supposed to be. Desultory fighting continued for two months, both sides holding their positions, while planting was entirely neglected. On Aug. 10, as the result of conferences between the consuls and the naval officers, the British cruiser " Curaçoa" and the German corvette "Bussard" proceeded to the rebel stronghold, Luatoanuu, and notified the chiefs that the place would be bombarded next morning. The rebels evacuated their stronghold during the night. After shelling and nearly destroying the fortifications the naval commanders again communicated with the chiefs, ordering them to disperse their followers and surrender their arms. They refused, and marched along the coast toward Lufilufi, where they made a stand and attacked the King's forces that pursued them, killing several men. On Aug. 13 the naval vessels opened fire, killing or wounding a large number, while Malietoa's forces attacked by land. The rebels, whose loss was heavy, sued for peace. The chiefs went on board the "Curaçoa" and promised to submit to Malietoa's rule, to pay taxes, and to deliver up 100 rifles. On the following evening, having been re-enforced by Aanites, they renewed the attack upon the King's men, and the "Bussard" fired upon them through the night. The rebels withdrew from this part

of the coast, and the insurrection broke out again in Aana. The German commander having refused to help the British in suppressing the rebels, Malietoa was told that he could expect no further assistance from the war ships. The English commander, however, conveyed him to Aana, and while both vessels lay off shore sent a message to Tamasese commanding him to come on board and "crawl to the feet of Malietoa," and to give up 100 rifles and disband his army "or take the consequences." Herr Schmidt, who was laboring with Tamasese as a mediator, induced him to accept these terms and to deliver up some escaped convicts. Accordingly he went on board and made his submission. The people of the disturbed districts were not submissive. They would pay no taxes, and when the land commissioners went to Aana to survey claims they were not allowed to do their work. The claims filed with the land commission amount to 24,000 acres more than the actual area of the islands. British subjects claim titles to 283,600, Americans 276,000, and Germans 135,122 acres. The war vessels remained in Samoan waters because both factions armed themselves for a fresh struggle. The only sources of income were the municipal rates of Apia after the people refused to pay the head tax, amounting to more than half their gross revenues, for the support of foreign officials. The salaries of the King's advisers are $5,000 and $6,000, while the King's salary is only $1,000, and for many months he had received

none.

In November the representatives of all the villages that were opposed to the Government withdrew from Apia to Atua to hold meetings. Both Atua and Aana forbade inhabitants of the districts that fought on the side of the Government to return to their villages, some of which were burned down.

SANTO DOMINGO, a republic in the West Indies occupying the eastern part of the island of Hayti or Santo Domingo. The Congress is a single house of 22 members, elected, like the President, indirectly for four years. Gen. Ulises Heureaux, who first became President on July 20, 1886, was re-elected for the second time in November, 1892.

The area of the republic is 18,045 square miles. The population is estimated at 417,000. Santo Domingo, the capital city, had 14,150 inhabitants in 1892.

The receipts of the Government for 1890 were estimated in the budget at $3,828,329, and expenses at $3,837,300. There is a foreign debt amounting to £714,300 sterling, with £680,000 interest in arrears at the end of 1890. A new 6per-cent. loan of £900,000 was contracted in 1890, on which no interest has been paid since March, 1893. The internal debts in 1889 amounted to $2,931,375 in 1889. The revenues are collected by the San Domingo Improvement Company, an American corporation, which has acquired the bonds held by a Dutch firm and contracted to complete the railroad toward the center of the island. This company has also undertaken to introduce a new coinage on a gold basis, with subsidiary silver dollars 84 grains heavier than those of the united and fractional coins of full proportional weight and

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »