The National tribune., 1894-01-04
Yours, in F., c. and L.,
THE REFERENDUM.
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE

There is growing demand in some parts
of the country for the adoption of the Swiss
institution of I" the Referendum" Whether
this would be desirable addition to our
political machinery is question worthy of
earnest consideration.
The " Initiative and the Referendum
are two features of the Swiss Government
which have come down from the ancient
fountains of political freedom and local self
government OF our race. They are not new
devices, but, on the contrary are supposed
to date back TO the earliest days OF Swiss
history, though they have only been made
of general application since the adoption of
the Canstitu;i8n of 1913. The revision of
the Constitution In 1874 extended the ap-
plication Of both,
In general terms they mean that the peo-
pie do not give full powers to their repre-
sentatives TO originate and make laws. but
that their acts are subject to the approval of
the people before going into effect The
Initiative" means that on the demand of
$4,000 voters measure must be introduced
into the Federal Council for the "enact-
ment, abolition, or alteration Of articles in
the Constitution" The measure that is
finally adopted by the Council, in response
to this demand, has to be submitted to the
people for adoption or rejection. There is a
local initiative in some of the Cantons by
which any obe- third of the members present
in CantonaI Council, from 800 or 5000
voters. may demand the enactment of new,
or the repeal or amendment of an old, Can
tonaf law.
The Referendum is on the same les.
Laws passed by the General Council relating
to certain subjects must he presented TO the
people for confirmation before going into
effect With another class of laws they may
or may not be submitted to the people, as
the General Council may decide. But they
must be submitted if demanded within so
days after their passage by petitions signed
| by 10000 voters. or by the formal demand OF
eight of the "a Cantons Each of the Can
| tons has similar regulations for referendums
| for the laws passed by the Canton Councils.
| The time for appealing for referendum for
these is 80 days. and the number of voting
petitioners differs in each Canton, ranging
from 900 in some Cantons to 5000 in others.
| When The laws are before the people the
voters can only vote "Yes" or "No" 1t is
| in fact, the veto power kept in the hands OF
the people, instead OF being conferred upon
the Chief Executive. =.
The main objection made to the system is
| that it keeps up the excitement and un.
certainty attending the going into effect o.
important legislation.
Those who favor the adoption of the Re
ferendum in this country should begin, al
the Swiss did, by trying it in the States, and
seeing how it works there. The Swiss ar,
| uOt I'LL VI Ouc III na III EcRdiu 10 It's virtues
Several of the Can,ons have no local Re
ferendum, and there is wide difference il
the regulations concerning it among tn,
other Cantons.
If we had a National Referendum in thi
country such measure as the Wilson Bill
would have to be submitted to popular con
firniaiion, and it could only be confirmed o
rejected as whole. The knowledge tina
this would have TO be done would, on TIN
other hand, undoubtedly modify the char
acter OF the measure as it passed Congress
The Long case will probably be decides
to- lay. The Washington bar general,
think that while the result Of a writ of man
d:mus is always doubtful, yet the decisiol
WI probably be in favor of Judge Long
ONLY $3.50 miles of railroad were bull