The representative., 1901-11-28


met, obliged themselves to lay before
Parliament and the country a distinct
policy, and expected to resign collect
lively or Individually il that policy or
any part Of it were defeated No idea
OF responsible leadership enters into the
relationship between the Federal Coun-
c1 and the Federal Assembly. Each
minister is elected as an executive Off
cial to carry ont within his own depart
menf the viii OF the Assembly, and
ultimately OF the whole electorate. The
Councillors are not expected to shine
as 50 many stars in the political 6rma-
ment. Whatever their politics, they
are expected to obey the orders OF the
Assembly
"Thps no minister thinks OF resigning
if his measure is vetoed either by the
Assembly or by the people at a referen-
dunn. II either the Legislature, or in
the last resort the electorate, show by
their vote that they disagree with him,
he submits, and prepares another bill
more in harmony with the wishes OF
his employers. Thus bill on the con-
struction OF railways by private enter
prise was substituted for bill in which
the Council had proposed that the rail-
ways should be monopoly OF the Con-
federation, and this without any change
in the Government To the Swiss dem
ocrat it seems irrational for the state
to lose a valuable administrator on ac-
count OF a difference Of opinion. No
censure is implied by hostile vote,
the servant has merely misunderstood
his masters views. The relationship
between the Federal Assembly and the
Executive is in fact much like that Of
a man with his old and trusted family
solicitor. The solicitor manages his le-
gal business, persuades him for his own
good, and is factor which can not be
neglected although nominally subordi-
nate. The client usually defers to his
advice, and takes no important legal
action without consulting his lawyer,
but he retains full freedom to take this
own course without giving offense, and
there arises no question OF resignation
or dismissal on either side.
Another important outcome of the
non-party character of the Government
is the tendency for the Federal Council
to become permanent body. From
1848 to 1895 there have been only thir-
ty-three Federal Councillors, the aver
age period OF service being over ten
years. Only two Councillors who were
willing to serve have failed to be re-
elected. One in 1854, and the other in
1872, when party passions ran high.
"The same absence of party spirit
characterizes the election of members
to the Federal Assembly as we'll as to
the Federal Council The Swiss have
it so firmly rooted in their minds, that
there is no need to dismiss good man
because you disagree with him, that
the certainty of the result prevents the
election from being contested. Only 40
per cent OF the seats, for instance, were
disputed in 1887. No great effort, there
fore, is needed to retain seats and as
the minority know they have no chance
of controlling the Government, they
cease to agitate, and there is an alb
sence OF excitement about elections gen.
orally.
"The Swiss elector is, on the whole,
more interested in the person of his
representatives than in his politics. The
rejection OF laws by the referendum
seems, in fact, to take the place Of
change of parties. When the govern
ment is unpopular or times have been
bad, and people are generally discon-
tented, they do not give vent to their
dissatisfaction by turning their repre-
sentatives out of Office, but they
promptly vote down the measures their
representatives have prepared.
"'1n the elections which took place
in October, 1890, out OF 100 members
in the National Council there were only
rs new ones. and in the Council of
states only 8 new ones. Between 1888
and 1896 the National Council has only
lost 20 of its members by non-re-
election, while 62 retired voluntarily
"'If law is unpopular the people
simply refuse to sanction it, and this
prevents an outcry against the party
that enacted it. If, on the other hand,
the people ratify it, there is clearly no
use in trying to persuade them that the
men in power were very wrong in pass
ing it, and ought to be turned out for
doing so Nor is there any chance for
an opposition to work on the popular
fears by foretelling the bad laws the
ruling party is likely to pass if contin-
ued in power, because the people can
always reject measures they do not
like. Hence it is not easy to find argu-
ments for electing new set of repre-
sentatives drawn either from the past
or the future