Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09
A MODEL REPUBLIC,
And Worthy of Emulation in Its
Pure Politics, is Switzerland.
THE PRESIDENCY sHORN OF POWER
Federal Authority in the Council, the
President Only Chairman.
TAXATION LIGHT ON THE POORER FOLK

Under the Swiss system the President of
the Confederacy has no more authority than
member of the Cabinet, says S. M. Byers in
Rarper's Magazine. The head of the Gov
ernment is a Council elected by the Parlia-
ment. This Council selects a Chairman
from its members, who thus be-
comes President of the Republic
and assumes Cabinet portfolio.
usually that of foreign affairs. He is clothed
with no powers of appointment to office; his
co-members of the Cabinet, even to the
Judges of the Supreme Court, are all elected.
He can serve but single year; hence his
time and talents. instead OF being devoted to
filling offices and Ueeking a reelection, are
given to the services of his country. He is
helped in his efforts for pure and economical
government by corpse of trained statesmen.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The country possesses firmly established.
long-tried and perfectly satisfactory civil
service system. no inducement could lead
the patriotic Swiss to go back to the prac-
tice of turning the offices of the Govern
ment over to horde of practical politi-
cians," to be corruptly dealt out to their
followers and associates. In fact,
the term politician" is scarcely
known, or, if known, only spoken of
with contempt and disgust. Political "boss-
ism" would be deadly calling there. Men
are trained to fill all minor Offices and are
promoted to high posts only Oh proven merit.
The system has proved wonderfully econom-
ical for the Government, and better and tit
ter public servants than formerly are found
in all places of trust and honor.
Civil service in Switzerland has not
caused the people to lose interest in the
government or the welfare of the country.
On the contrary, they are proud Of the high
excellence OF their officials, and look with
contentment upon a system that assures the
people public economy and the State honor.
SMALL SALARIES AND PURITY.
The salaries of all officers are small, SO
that public officials do not and cannot as
sumo the style and extravaganza SO unbe-
coming to a people's government, or an Of
fetal extravaganza that only comes. as a
rule, with high salaries, short terms of Of
fee, and consequent temptations to be cor
rupt. A dishonest official cannot clear his
skirts there by regigning and going back to
work in his political party till his crime is
forgotten. One dishonest act and he will
never hold Office again.
'By their fruits We shall know them"
Switzerland is republic like our own-a
Government of the people by the people
yet its system of civil service has not only
saved millions of money, it has increased
the patriotism of iGs citizens and brought
honor on the country.
Almost the first difficulty that besets
people trying to govern for themselves is the
question of revenue. Where is the money
to come from? Taxes, the bugbear of all
nations, also puzzle the Swiss. The method
of raising them in some of the cantons is
alike interesting and novel.
THE RICH PAY THE TAXES.
No official assessment is made on property.
Blanks are distributed to every house, to be
filled in by its occupants. The system is
known as the progressive" tax scale.
A, who owns $1,000 worth OF property,