Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-07

'l'''' y " III btt.l|l nave
- Just had an interview with the
EN4A&M president of switzerland. He is
- the national representative of this
niue republic and as such ranks among
the rulers of Europe. His power is moth
ing Ike that of President Roosevelt. The
SWISS have "A more democratic government
IMAM ours and they are more strictly re
publican. The country is divided up into
cantons or states, and these cantons hold
TO thclr sovereignty much more than do
the states OF our union, ana they have re-
leased but few of their rights TO the ma
tiOnal government.
Switzerland has a congress Just as we
have, but its congress elects a federal
council of seven members, whose business
1t is to execute the laws. The council
I'D. to a large extent the same powers as
our president, and the president Of the
Swiss republic is only one of its members
and It's presiding officer. The council is
elected for three years, the president for
one. He is chosen, not by the ballot OF
the people, but by that of The Swiss con.
gross, and the constitution provides that
he cannot hold two terms i'm succession
TIL president has no veto, no appointing
power and he cannot even nominate a
man for any position. His only distinction
as regards the other members of the fed
eral council is that he gets 5000 more per
year, and that he receives the foreign min
listers on ceremonial occasions and is ad-
dressed as his excellcncy.
You might think that the Swiss govern,
ment would be an expensive one, inasmuch
as seven men are required to do what one
executive does I'm the United States. II is
not. The council acts about as our cab,
met ministers, and altogether, it receives
only about one-third as much as President
Roosevelt. Each member gets only 81. 316,
and the Swiss president less than 81. 700.
the extra 5000 being for entertainment
This makes a total OF a little over SIG. 600,
or not one-third as much as we annually
pay our president.
The members of the national PaTliamen.
receive So a day for the time that they are
in session. with their travelling expenses
for the distances between .neir homes and
the capital at 3 cents a mile. doubt
whether there is any state in the union
that is governed so cheaply and | am sure
there are few states anywhere governed so
well.
But let me tell you about my talk with
the president. The man now in Office Is
Joseph Zemp of Entlebunch, a little town
OF about 5000 people lying in a valley be
tween here and LuCerne. Mr.. Temp has
been long known as one of the leading
statesmen. He has served in the national
congress and as a member of the federal
council again and again and he was presi-
dent OF the republic in 1895. He has
offices i'm the national capital, and IT was
there that | met him and chattcd with him
over the present condition OF Switzerland
Shortly after the opening of our CONVEX
sation | asked as to the American inva-
sion, and whether il might not be increased
for the benefit of both countries. The
Swiss president replied that he was anX-
ious to see closer trade relations be-
tween the two republics. lie said that
switzerland regards the United States as ito
younger and greater sister, and that the
spirit Of democracy ought to bring us even
closer together. He spoke Of the Swiss
who were living i'm the United States and
Of the high estimation IN which they held
our country, He objected TO our tariff as
being too great on many Of the Swiss eN-
ports and thought a mutual reduction might
be made in the interest Of international
trade.
asked him az to the Swiss tarin meas
ures which are now before the country
but he would not prophesy whether they
will be accepted or rejected.