Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-07

ii Gus of Repre-
sentatives is built in
the shape of a half moon. with the
seats rising in concentric rows from
front to back. The president sits on
a raised platform somewhat like our
speakers seat, with a clerk on each
side of him. The press galleries are
at the front, so that the newspaper CORE
spondents face the members. Each mem
Der has his own desk and chair, and the
house, when in session, looks not unlike
one of our legislative assemblies.
a curious feature of the Swiss congress
is the public translator. These people have
more different languages than the Cana
dams. The eastern part of the country is
German, the western French and the south
ern Italian. About 20 per cent of the peo-
pie speak German, 20 per cent French and
about 3 per cent Italian, with . per cent
speaking other languages. In western
switzerland nearly all the signs are
french, in the eastern states they are all
German and in TicinO they are Italian. The
government reports are printed in German
and French, and the speeches here are
made in either German or French. for
nearly all the members understand both
languages. The orders of the president are
translated by the official Interpreter. and
all of his messages are furnished the press
In the two languages.
The upper house or state council hall is
much like our senate chamber. Both
chambers are lighted from the ceilings and
in addition have electric lights.
The Swiss republic has a number of
features which are not found in that of
the United States. All citizens who are
over 20 have the right to vote and all
voters with the exception of clergymen are
eligible TO congress. Representatives are
chosen at the rate of one representative
for every %, 900 souls, this rule covering
the whole Swiss republic. The members
OF the state council, or senate, are elected
by the c%antOns, or states, two for each cam
ton. Each state pays the salaries of it's
senators, but the salaries of the repre-
sentatives are paid by the national gov
eminent.
All laws are made by congress. but if the
laws are not satisfactory 20 the people
upon the application of 80, 900 petitioners or
or eight of the state governments they
must be submitted to the popular vote, and
II this is against them they cannot go into
ehect. This is what is known as the refer
endum and it is one of the characteristic
features of the Swiss government.
In addition to this they have here what
Is called the initiative. This provides that
II a petition signed by so, 900 people is
presented to the government asking for
an amendment to the constitution. that
amendment must be at once submitted to
vote. If there is a majority in the afirma,
tive congress has to modify the constitu-
ton accordingly.
In many Of the Swiss Cantons it used to
be that all political matters were settled
by a viva voce election Of the people. All
came together i'm the open air. speeches
were made and the questions submitted
to vote. At present such things are gen,
orally done in council chambers. The cities
have their own aldermen, and some Of the
states have their own legislatures.
The laws are administered here i'm a way
different from that of the United States.
We appoint our federal judges. In Swift
zerland they are elected by congress. The
supreme court consists Of nine judges and
nine alternates elected for terms of six
years. Any man except a clergyman can
he chosen, and il makes no matter whether
he is a lawyer or not. The court. however.
must be so divided that three of the
judges can speak French, three German and
three Italian.
The Swiss judges receive only one-ffth
as much salary as the members Of our
supreme court. They are each paid 81. 600
a year, with SO a day extra for travelling
expenses while absent on judicial bust,
ness from the capital.