The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-22

THE REFEBEpDUQ.
HOW 1T OPERATES.
1t Hurts "Party." But Safeguards
the Peoples Interests.
1t Forestalls Corporations, but Pro.
notes Cooperation.


- NEW - n ~ u ~
q. w. Sullivan, New York, N. Y, in The
Coming NatiOn)
For abundant and convincing illustra-
tion of what has been the happy effect
of wholly trusting the people, we may
turn to the experience of another repub-
lie as gained during the last quarter of a
century mainly. In that time, direct
legislation in gradually broadening linn
it's, has been adopted by Switzerland.
Imagine not that Switzerland was espe-
cially adapted to this political mechan-
ism. On the contrary, the twenty-five
Swiss canons (states) differ, as the Ey-
cyclopedia Britannica says, at almost
every point-social political, religious,
industrial, physical and linguistic. The
three million Swiss are separated by four
languages, by the lofty Alps, by intense
religious sentiments which array the
people in several parties, and by the ira
ditions and habits of narrow provinces.
Aristocracy, not Democracy, is ancient in
nine-tenths of what is now Switzerland: ):
when the French took possession in 1863,
but one man in four had vote; half of
it's present area, previously parts of sur
rounding mOnarchies, only entered
Switzerland in the present century; most
of the old canOns were burgOmaster oil
garchies. So far from being a record of
peace. Switzerlands S history is one of the
bloodiest known to the nations; as late
as 1847 the Swiss were engaged in re-
ligious civil war The sole foundation
for Switzerland's reputation for ancient
democracy is in the practice of a few of
its forest cantons. The obstacles to the
spread of direct legislation in Switzer-
land We're great and many
Forty years ago. basing their theory
on the communal meeting of some of the
Swiss states-which is precisely the
town meeting of New England-some ad-
vanced Swiss citizens formally proposed
an extension of direct legislation to the
states and thence to the Confederation
These men, while pushing forward the
system under the term direct legislation,
also gave names to it's two working prin-
ciples, calling the introduction of laws
by petition the Initiative. and a vote on
law at the polls the Referendum.
Today Switzerland practices direct leg
islatiOn in most of it's communes, in all
OF its cities, in twentyOne of its twenty
two cantons, and in the Confederation as
a whole. In fourteen cantons it is OBJ
ligatory-that is, every legislative enact
ment must go before the people; in the
other cantons having it, it is optional
that is, if legal public petition calls for
vote, an enactment goes to the polls.
In the radical cantons chose having the
Initiative and obligatory Referendum
besides the bills from the legislature and
the propositions introduced by the Initia-
tive every executive decree and every
appropriation above a fixed sum go to the
popular vote
The Initiative is simple. A citizen
wants law. He may draft it himself
He draws UP a petition for it. Others
who favor it, sign and circulate. The
Maire of the commune township certi-
fies to the signatures. When one-twelfth
to One-siXteenth of the voters of the can
ton (the required proportion varies in
different cantons) have signed it, the pc
tition goes to the legislature, which can
not alter its meaning. It must be sent
to the polls at the next election in the
shape of question: the vote on it being
simply yes or "no.'' Referendum
votes are taken in the same manner
Zurich is the typical radical canton.
1t has 900 inhabitants, with $4,000
voters. Its legislature consists of one
house, as in all cantons. The body con-
sists Of 100 members. 1t prints no rec
ord. rarely listens to set speech, knows
nothing of bribery, holds two or three
brief sessions annually, and passes less
than four laws year. The people, and
the people only, have the veto, and they
o{c 81 fJ1a1
this fact is explained the simplicity,
economy, honesty and publicity of legis-
latiOn in Zurich today. Thirty years ago
it's legislatures did as other legislatures
do now.
There is not sinecure office in Zurich.
Few vesitges remain of the confusion Of
laws, the public extravaganza, the parti-
san feeling the personal campaigns
of Zurich's old-time repre-
government
One striking example of the economic
changes taking place in Zurich must here
suffice in lieu of the many that might be
quoted. The popular vote has trans
ferred the center of gravity of taxation
from the poor to the rich. Forty years
ago all the taxes were indirect Ton COM
modities) and consequently paid by the
the masses. Today 80 out cf
every 81 francs are direct and stay where
hey are put-on the men of wealth.
Taxation is mainly on inheritances. in
comes and high-priced real estate-in
Zach class graduated. Direct inheritan-
les are lightly taxed collateral or to non
heavily. Every citizen pays an
ncome tax-the average laborer about |
IS per year and the millionaire at least |
-, 1000. The income tax of Zurich is col |
ected with as little difficulty as any |
,ther; every man assesses himself, and |
Is the property of each will pass through |
he courts after his death. subject to a
Inc if it has been under assessed, and as
he taxpayer is in doubt as to the day of |
lis death, he has strong incentive to
lssess himself wisely. The rising tax on
eal estate catches a part of the specula-
i've values.
The referendum for the Swiss Confed-
'ration as whole, began in 1875, twenty |
,aarS ao0 this fall II ia tho nNtiono1