PARAGUAY. 



687 



county, and school district debts to 5 per cent, 

 of the valuation; and repealing the section that 

 prohibits immigration of free negroes to the State, 

 which is merely a dead letter. 



Two other proposed constitutional amendments 

 were approved, but will require action by the next 

 Legislature before they can be submitted to the 

 electors. These are: Providing for initiative and 

 referendum concerning State measures, on peti- 

 tion of 8 and 5 per cent, respectively, and permit- 

 ting referendum to be ordered by the Legislature; 

 and removing the restriction that limits suffrage 

 to white citizens, and providing that in addition 

 to regular qualifications others in reference to 

 residence may be required by enactment. 



A law for registration of voters was one of the 

 important measures of the session. Electors 

 must register between the first Monday in Janu- 

 ary and May 15 with the county clerk or a 

 notary or a justice of the peace. Foreign-born 

 citizens must show their naturalization papers. 

 The State was redivided into senatorial and rep- 

 resentative districts. 



County courts were authorized to declare un- 

 navigable streams public highways for the float- 

 ing of logs and timber, and to provide for their 

 improvement and use. This act was pronounced 

 unconstitutional, in so far as it authorizes the 

 taking of private property for public use. 



Several laws were made for the construction 

 and preservation of good roads. Owners of ve- 

 hicles used for heavy freight and in habitual use 

 may secure rebates on their road taxes for four 

 years by the use of wide tires; $1 a year for each 

 wheel of vehicles having tires at least three inches 

 wide; and for those of four inches or more and 

 so constructed that the front and rear wheels 

 do not run on the same lines, a further rebate of 

 $2 for each vehicle. County courts may lay plank 

 and corduroy roads, and authorize skid roads on 

 county highways or roads of public easement. 

 County convicts may be worked on highways, 

 and State convicts on the roads between State 

 institutions. In some counties it is permitted to 

 levy a $1.25 bicycle tax for side paths. 



The privileges of the Soldiers' Home were ex- 

 tended to soldiers and sailors of the Spanish and 

 Filipino wars. 



Text-books for the schools are to be selected 

 by a board of five commissioners appointed by 

 the Governor, instead of by the State Board 

 of Examiners and the county superintendents, 

 as heretofore. Contracts as to price are to 

 be made with publishers; and changes may not 

 be made within six years. Agricultural college 

 lands that have been subject to sale for twenty- 

 five years are to be sold at $1.25 an acre. It was 

 provided that applicants for State certificates 

 must take examinations and reach a general 

 average of 85 per cent., not falling below 70 in 

 any subject; and, in addition, must have had 

 thirty months' successful teaching experience, 



fifteen in the State. This conflicts somewhat 

 with the privileges of normal-school graduates, 

 who have heretofore been exempt from examina- 

 tion. Their normal practice in teaching is placed 

 to their credit. A general school law was made t 

 constituting the Governor, the Secretary of State, 

 and the Superintendent of Instruction the State 

 Board of Education. 



The close season for salmon in the Columbia 

 river system was changed at the special sessions 

 of 1898, and other changes in the fish and game 

 laws were made at this session. The office of 

 Game and Forestry Warden was created ap- 

 pointment to be by the Governor; deputy war- 

 dens were provided for, and general regulations 

 adopted for protection of forests and game. 



The Dairy and Food Commissioner is to be 

 elected by the electors, instead of by the Legisla- 

 ture, and to serve for four years instead of two r 

 as now. The pure food law was amended, and 

 the adulteration of candy prohibited. A board 

 of barbers' examiners was created. 



An act amending the laws on management of 

 State lands and one changing the duties and sal- 

 ary of the agent selecting lands given by the Gov- 

 ernment were passed. The Governor, Secretary,, 

 and Treasurer constitute a State land board. 



The general law for negotiable instruments, 

 recommended by the conference of commissioners 

 on uniform legislation was adopted. It was 

 made unlawful to organize or employ armed 

 bodies of men in any city, except those provided 

 for by law. Other enactments were: 



Creating the office of State Biologist, without 

 salary. 



Designating the Oregon grape, Berberis aqui- 

 folium, as the State flower. 



Providing that insurance policies may be writ- 

 ten only by resident agents. 



Prohibiting the use of slot machines. 



Creating a commission for the exposition at 

 Paris. 



Providing that mining claims, quartz or placer^ 

 shall be deemed real estate. 



Amending the law for protecting trade-marks 

 so as to prevent the use of second-hand packages 

 to evade the law. 



To prevent uninspected sheep from entering the 

 State. 



Providing that a sale in bulk of a stock of 

 goods or wares may be presumed fraudulent un- 

 less the seller gives the buyer a list of his cred- 

 itors. 



The general and special appropriation bill car- 

 ried items amounting to $1,183,130 for the two 

 years. 



Mortgage Tax Liens. The question came be- 

 fore a court in the State in May, whether a mort- 

 gage tax is a lien on the real property. The court 

 decided that it is not, and that the mortgagor 

 is not liable; the claim stands against the holder 

 of the mortgage. 



PARAGUAY, a republic in South America, f airs and Co onization J. S. Decoud ,. Minister of 



The legislative power is vested in the Congress, Finance, Felix de os Rios; Minister of Justice 



consisting of a Senate of 13 members and a Worship ^ and Public Instruction, Mateo Collai. 



Chamber of 26 members, all elected by universal A new Cabinet appointed by t 



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