The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1895-09-05

Tho political divisions and subdivia'ons
Of tho SWISS confodo ratiou arc ,he San . as
those OF tho United States, savo saa. no
commune performs the functions OF 18th
townsnin ana county. The citizens Il .
neighborhood ere grouped in tho govern
ment OF commune; regional interests
have given rise 20 the canton: tho federal
government uniies the whole people A
correspondent OF Geneva writes; To what
extent the Swiss oulcv home rue and low
Tar tho people govern themselves directly
may be seen in tho operations OF the ref-
erendum IN each division Of tho state, and
In the composition OF tho cantonal and led
cral executive powers.
In one form or other the system of thu
referendum has prevailed in some parts OF
Switzerland from time inmemorial. To
this day in many OF the communes Of Uri,
Glaris, Schwyz, Appca1el and Untervnld
the citizens meet, "a did their fathors bo-
fore them, In the town marhot.plsce or ia
the open air on mountain plain TO accept
or reject by show OF hands tho laws laid
before them by the communal councils In
these radical democracies the right OF
initiative belongs TO every citizen, he who
conceivcs a law having the opportunity TO
present 1t ana explain It at n meeting Of his
fellow-electors. The Swiss commune Is ~
nearly autonomous as Ia consistent with
cantonal and federal rights. 1t IL re.
garded us In state en- petit. IL really ex.
ercises the powers that NJ. do Tocqueville
mistakenly attributed to tho American
township. II is jealous OF interference by
the state. 10 does not part with tho adj
mlnistration OF its forests, police, roads,
schools, churches or asylums until the
point Is reached where the interest OF the
state mnnifestly take the place OF locality.
Through the oferendum Of the popular as
semblages OF the purely democratic COM
munes every citizen becomes legislator,
his voice and vote directly influencing the
decision OF public questions. Yet even the
communes having u representative govern
ment the referendum may be invoked 40
readily that the people hold control IN de-
tails. Within n year on the official bulletin
boards OF a commune In Geneva was posted
a printed notice announcing that, unless
avotc Of the people to tho contrary was
called for, professor In one Of the colleges
would be presented by the communal coun-
ell with an honorarium OF $40.
Tho constiW ton OF tho canton OF Geneva
provides that the people may sanction or re-
ject not only the laws passed by the can
tonal legislature, but the orders issued by
lut tduloudl l'bAblbAANb anu tAftuilNC DOW-
ers. The exceptions to the exercise Of the
cantonal referendum are laws declared TO
be "of urgence" by tho Legislature and
those relating to the annual budget, except
Ing when the latter establish new tax, in
creasing tax already existing, or nccossi.
tates n call for public loan. On the de-
msnd Of at least $500 voters about one In
four Of fhe total number In the canton
within thirty days after the official publica-
ton Off law or order the question Of adoption
or rejection must DO submitted 10 the
-an-iA Tho vote on 'he referendum
take place within forty Gays aitei no
days Just mentioned. Thus al the fune
OF a direct democracy lie with the c.tia
OF tho canton Ia general, save that OF delib-
GRAFTON In assembly.
Under the Swiss constitution 30 on olti-
gems, or majority in eight c3u,7ns. may
demand 4 popular vote on any federal law
whatsoever and on any crdcr em4ncting
from tho legislative or executive power
which Is OF general import or Il not urgent
In character. Tic peatior Of the federal
referendum must no made within ninety
days after the publication OF the law or
order.
The cant0nal nud federal constitutions
are also subject TO revision on vote of tho
people. The voters 90 tho canton . Geneva
are called urcu every hftccn years 90 do.
eide whether its constitution shalt be re-
! vised. The federal onsntduon may be re-
I vised ct any time. On tho petition o. $4,000
4 voters -abou. one twelfth OF the total vote
or IN cnso either house OF the federal as
scmbly (Congressl donands revision, the
| question whether IL shah take place Is cub
united 70 the country.
The records Of the referendum are curl.
Gus, inaspluoh as they show tt3 frequency
with which the people have had recourse TO
II and the tenacity with which the democ.
racy has chung 10 the conservative Gus
toms. In the iifty-fve years from 1AG9 TO
1874 the referendum was resorted 10 In
Berno sixty times. In the ak years from
1874 TO 1850 Ave measures recommended by
the federal executive and passed by both
houses OF the federal assembly, tho mem
bers OF which were elected by universal
suffrage were voiced ~ national vote. Ia
1880 proposal to revise tho federal consti-
tuition so rs TO change the regulations OF
the issues of bank notes was rejected by o
majority OF $4,000 la 1o12, and again
In 1878, the people OF the canton OF Geneva
rejected proposed change In its constitu.
ton, the last time by majority OF g. 600 IN
a vote of II 200. Twice since 1917 the same
canton has voted not to increase the salary
OF the members OF it's executive council, ant
Il has since declined TO reduce tho number
Of members from seven TO eve Tbs tw,
French cantons OF Geneva and Neuchatel
which only entered the Govt federation in tn
present century, adopted the referendum OF
the avowed ground OF its efficiency IA
check to hasty and inconsiderate legisla
ton.
On the other hand, the Swiss people hav
shown no blind dislike of change or fear 0
settling once and for all questions OF tn
grayest character. A constitution sui
mitted to them in 1872, the work Of tn
partisans OF Capitalization, who had pre-
sented the programme of 'an army and
law went down before majority O
5000. Only two years later, however, IN
present constitution was adopted religion
questions connected with II nrousing
strong feeling. 1t was adopted by a vote O
1000 against 1893 600, the Catholic canton
throwing heavy majorities against It, as
suppressed converts and the Order c
Jesuits in Switzerland. In 1878 In the maj
ter Of the st. Gothard tunnel subsidy III
Swiss people showed their capacity 10 ap
preciate questions OF broad policy. Al
though the granting Of tho subsidy put
strain upon the National resources and tn
enterprise was adverse TO the local inter
ests Of cantons, half million voters wen
10 the polls on wretchcd day in midwinte
and two-thirds Of them voted "Yes.n