THE REPUBLIC OF SAN DOMINGO 255 



was appointed by the United States government to in- 

 vestigate tin- condition of affairs. It visited the island in 

 1871, and reported favorably, but the annexation treaty 

 was defeated in the United States Senate During the 

 past few years, according to the consular reports, the 

 country has prospered and become comparatively quiet. 

 Many immigrants, recently arrived from Cuba, have been 

 encouraged to settle on the island. 



The presenl republic, founded in ls-14, is governed 

 under a constitution by the terms of which the Legislative 

 power is vested in a congress of twenty-two deputies, 

 chosen by dired popular vote with restricted suffrage. 

 The executive is vested in a president, chosen by an elec- 

 toral college for the term of four years. The present 

 1 (resident is General Ulysses Heureaux, chosen in 1897. 

 The ministry is composed of the heads of the departments 

 of the interior ami j>olice, finance and commerce, justice 

 and public instruction, war and marine, public works, 

 and foreign affairs. 



The country is divided into ten provinces or districts, 

 each administered by a governor appointed by the presi- 

 dent. The various communes, cantons, and sections are 

 presided over by prefects appointed by the governors. 

 There are a supreme court of justice and eleven district 

 courts, besides local alcaldes. A small army exists, with a 

 regiment stationed in each province. 



In 1896 the exports were valued at $2,198,817 gold; the 

 imports at $1,~( ):!,.")!).">. The customs duties are >f a pro- 

 hibitory character, and hence commerce is not Large. The 

 principal articles of export, in their order of value, are 

 tobacco, coffee, cocoa, sugar, mahogany. Logwood, hides, 

 goatskins, and honey. 



The revenuein 1896 was $1,545,450. The expenditure is 

 $1,351,250. The public debt is $13,589,750. Tin- is guar- 

 anteed by tin- customs dues and by a first mortgage on 

 the Central Dominican Railway. The collection of the 

 customs is controlled by the Santo Domingo Improvement 



