The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-20

Lot US look at some Of the facts which Mr..
Sullivan brings forward. There are in Switz-
erland twenty-five cantons or States. which
are subdivided into 2.7O6 communes or town
ships. The political as we'll as territorial unit
10 the commune. which. SO far as may be con-
sistent with cantonal and federal rights, gov.
ems itself. 1t has it's own property to look
after. and is jealous Of interference on the part
OF the larger political bodies. Except where
the interests OF the canton or Of the confedera
ton manifestly supersede those OF the imme-
dlate locality. tho commune declines to part
with the administration OF its lands. forests.
roads, police. schools. churches, and taxes.
Throughout Switzerland the adult male in
habitants of a commune meet at least once
annually. usually in the town market place
or on mountain plain. and carry out their
functions as citizens. There they debate pro-
posed laws. name officers. and discuss affairs
Of public nature. On such occasions every
citizen Is legislator. his voice and vote infiu-
encing the question at issue. To every citizen.
moreover. belongs the right OF initiating
measure Decision is ordinarily made By
show Of hands.
Similar examples OF purely democratic legis-
lation are afforded In two OF the cantons as
cantons. and in two other cantons divided into
half cantons. In tho half canton OF Outer
Appenzell 1880 voters are qualified to meet
and egisate. and the number actually assem-
bled sometimes reaches 10000. This. how
ever. Is the largest number ever witnessed in
such an assembly. which is known as Lands
gemeinde: the lowest number Of persons
meeting in canton or half canton being about
5000. In communal political assemblies.
on the other hand. only a few hundred voters
usually take part The yearly cantonal or
half cantonal Landsgemeinde. or popular as
sembly. takes place on a Sunday in April or
May. While the powers and duties Of such
body vary somewhat in the different cantons
which possess the institution they usually
cover the following subiects: Partial rs well
as total revision of the cantonal constitution:
enactment OF all laws: imposition OF direct
taxes: contracting OF State debts and alIenn.
ton OF public domains the granting OF pub
lie privileges: the admission OF foreigners to
cantonal citizenship: tho establishment OF
now offices and the regulation OF salaries: and.
finally the election OF tonal officers whether
administrative or judicial. The programme Tor
the meeting is arranged by the officials and
published beforehand. For further light on the
working o; the institution. we arc Indebted to
Mr. j. NJ Vincent. a passage from whose essay
on state and Federal Government OF Swtzer-
land" is quoted in the book before u.s. TO
give opportunities for individuals and COM
muna authorities to make proposals and oiIer
bills the official gazette OF the canton an
nounces every January that for fou rteen days
after given date. petitions may be presented
for that purpose. These must be written.
must plainly state the object and set forth the
grounds OF the proposal. All such motions are
considered by what Is called the Triple
Council. or Legislature OF the canton. and are
classified as expedient and inexpedient
proposal receiving more than ten votes must
be placed on tho list OF tho expedient. accom-
panied by tho opinion OF the council. The re-
jected proposals are placed under special
rubrc, famiiarly called by the people the Bel
wagon, or extra COACH The popular assembly
may reverse tho action OF the council II 1t
chooses and take measure out OF the extra
COACH" but. in that case. a consideration OF 1t
is deferred until tho next year In the larger
cantonal assemblies debate Is excluded. vote
being simply taken on rejection or adoption:
in the smaller states. tho prohibition of discus
sion is not 80 vigorously enforced. Votes are
taken by show OF hands though a recourse
may be made to secret ballot II it be de-
handed. The elections OF officers follow the
same rule in regard to this matter as legisa-
ton. Nominations for office. however. need
not be sent in by petition, but may be offered
hx,s ha