The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-04
HAPPY SWITZERLAND.
The Extent to Which It's Peoric
Enjoy Homo Rule.
A Country where Every Citizen Is Leg
islstor and No Act Of Government BE-
comes Law Until I, Has Received
the Popular Approval,

the Popular Approval,
Tho political divisions and subdivisions
OF the Swiss confederation are the same az
those OF the United States, save that the
commune performs the functions Of both
township and county. The citizens Of
neighborhood are grouped in the govern
ment Of commune; regional interests
have given rise 70 the canton, the federal
government unites the whole people A
correspondent OF Geneva writes: TO what
extent the Swiss ENJOY home rule and how
far the people govern themselves directly
may be seen in the operations OF the ref
erendum in each division OF the state, and
in the composition Of the cantonal and fed
eral executive powers.
In one form or other the system Of tho
referendum has prevailed in sol parts n
Switzerland from time immemorlal. To
tins day in many OF the communcs OF Uri,
Glaris, Schwyz, Appenzell and Unterwald
the citizens meet, as did their fathers be-
fore them, In the town market.place or in
the open air on a mountain plain 10 accept
or reject by show Of hands the laws laid
before them by the communal councils. In
these radical democracies the right Of
initiative belongs 10 every citizen, he who
conceives law having the opportunity 10
present II and explain il at a meeting Of his
fellow electors. The Swiss commune is az
nearly autonomous as is consistent with
cantOnal and federal rights. II is re-
garded as in a state en- petit IL really ex-
ercises the powers that NJ. de Tocquevillo
mistakenly attributed TO the American
township. Iii jealous Of interference by
the state. II does not part with the ad-
mnistration Of its forests, police, roads,
schools, churches or asylums until the
point is reached where tho interest OF the
state manicsty take the place Of locality.
Through the referendum Of the popular as
sembages Of the purely democratic com
munes every citizen becomes legislator,
his voice and vote directly influencing the
decision Of public questions. Yet even the
cOmmuncs having o representative govern
ment the referendum may be invoked so
readily that the people hold control In de-
tails. Within year on the official bulletin
/ boards OF commune in Geneva was posted
printed notice announcing that, unless
a vote Of the people to tho contrary was
called for, a professor in one Of the colleges
would be presented by the communal coun'
/ Gil with an honorarum Of S340
The constitution Of tho canton Of Geneva
provides that tho people may sanction orre-
| jcct not only the laws passed by the can
/ tonal legislature. but the orders issued by
/ the cantonal legislative and executive pow
ers. The exceptions 10 the exercise OF the
cantonal referendum are laws declared 20
be "of urgence" by the legislature and
I those relating 10 the annual budget, except
I ing when the latter establish new tax, M
creasing a tar already existing, or necessi-
tates a call for public loan. On the de-
mand Of at least $500 voters about one In
/ four OF the total number in the canton
within thirty days after the official publica-
ton ola law or order the question Of.adopiicn
or rejection must be submitted TO the
people The vote on the referendum must
/ take place within forty days after the thirty
DAYS lust mentioned. Thus all the functions
Of a direct democracy lie with the citizens
OF the canton ia general, save that OF deh0-
GRAFTON in assembly.
Under the Swiss constitution 10000 citi-
zens. or a majority in eight cantons may
demand a popular vote on any federal law
whatsoever and on any order emanailng
from the legislative or executive power
which is OF general import or IS not urgent
in character. The petition OF the federal
referendum must be made within ninety
days after the publication OF the law or
order.
The cantonal and federal constitutions
are also subject 10 revision on a vote OF the
people The voters Of the canton OF Geneva
are called upon every fifteen years 10 DC
eide whether its constitution shall be re-
yjsed. The federal constitution may be re-
vised at any time. On the petition n 5000
voters-abOut one twelfth of the total vote
or in case either house Of the federal as
/ semblv (Congress) demands revision, the
question whether il shall take pace Is SUD
mitted 10 the country
The records OF the referendum are curl
Gus. inasmuch as they show the frequency
with which the people have had recourse 10
il and the tenacity with which tie democ'
rary has chung 10 the conservative Gus
toms. In the fftyfye years from 1909 70
1894 the referendum was resorted 10 m
/ Rerne sixty times. Ia the SIX years from
/ 1874 10 $50 five measures recommended by
the federal executive and passed by both
houses Of the federal assembly, the mem
bers of which were elected by universal
suffrage. were vetoed by a national vote In
tssO a nroposal 10 revise the federal consu-
,u,ion 50 as 10 change the regulations of
,he issues Of bank notes was rejected by "a
,naiori,v ~ l34OOO. In 1852. and again
in iS,S the people Of the canton OF Geneva
rejected proposed change IN us oonslil"-
lion. the last tune by majority OF 5000 IN
vote OF II 200 Twice since lS4' the same
canton has voted not TO increase the salary
NJ the members Of It's executive council, and
/ il has since declined 10 reduce the number
NJ members from seven 10 five. The two
French cantons OF Geneva and Neuchatel,
which only entered the confederation IN the
present century, adopted the referendum on
The avowed ground Of its efficiency as
check 10 hasty aud inconsiderate legisla-
iion.
On the other hand, the Swiss people have
sho,vn mo- blind dislike Of change or fear OF
settling once and for all questions OF the
oravest character. A constitution sub
mitted 10 them In 1872, the work OF the
nartisans OF Capitalization, who had pre-
seuted the programme Of ian army and
law went down before majority OF
1000 Only two years later, however, the
nresent constitution was adopted, religious
Questions connected with II arousing
strong feeling. II was adopted by vote OF
40 900 against l9S,Oo0, the Catholic cantons
throwing heavy maiorities againsti It, as II
suppressed converts and the Order OF
Jesuits in Switzerland. In 1873 In the mat
ter OF the st. Gothard tunnel subsidy the
Swiss people showed their capacity to APP
nreciate questions Of broad policy. Al
ibough the granting.of the subsidy put a
strain upon the National resources and the
enterprise was adverse 10 the local inter
ests Of cantons, half million voters went
10 the polls on wretched day In midwin'er
and ,wo.thirds Of them voted "Ies."
Harmless Dynamite Bombs.
An American was arrested on the Aus
,lan frontier for having in his luggage un-
.,,,e,aLable dynamite bombs. On further