e been established at La Paz.

_Commerce._--The foreign trade of Bolivia is comparatively unimportant,
but the statistical returns are incomplete and unsatisfactory; the
imports of 1904 aggregated only L1,734,551 in value, and the exports
only L1,851,758. The imports consisted of cottons, woollens, live-stock,
provisions, hardware and machinery, wines, spirits and clothing. The
principal exports were (in 1903) silver and its ores (L636,743), tin and
its ores (L1,039,298), copper ores (L157,609), bismuth (L16,354), other
minerals (L20,948), rubber (L260,559), coca (L28,907), and cinchona
(L9197)--total exports, L2,453,638. These figures, however, do not
correctly represent the aggregates of Bolivian trade, as her imports and
exports passing through Antofagasta, Arica and Mollendo are to a large
extent credited to Chile and Peru. The import trade of Bolivia is
restricted by the poverty of the people. The geographical position
limits the exports to mineral, forest and some pastoral products, owing
to cost of transportation and the tariffs of neighbouring countries.

_Government._--The government of Bolivia is a "unitarian" or centralized
republic, representative in form, but autocratic in some important
particulars. The constitution in force (1908) was adopted on the 28th of
October 1880, and is a model in form and profession. The executive
branch of the government is presided over by a president and two
vice-presidents, who are elected by direct popular vote for a period of
four years, and are not eligible for re-election for the next succeeding
term. The president is assisted by a cabinet of five ministers of state,
viz.: foreign relations and worship; finance and industry; interior and
fomento; justice and public instruction; war and colonization. Every
executive act must be countersigned by a minister of state, who is held
responsible for its character and enforcement, and may be prosecuted
before the supreme court for its illegality and effects. The legislative
branch is represented by a national congress of two houses--a Senate and
Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is composed of 16 members, two from each
department, who are elected by direct popular vote for a period of six
years, one-third retiring every two years. The Chamber of Deputies is
composed of 72 members, who are elected for a period of four years,
one-half retiring every two years. In impeachment trials the Chamber
prosecutes and the Senate sits as a court