Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-04-24
UTOPIA IN MINIATURE.
San Marine. Small and Ancient
Worthy Of Imitation by Larger
Nations.

ofhtN .i<hAhi-Ncs ~ w
f. Curtis in the Chicago Record-Her-
add
The government is purely democrat
| ic and intrusted to the Legislature call
ed the sovereign council. which is
composed OF two bodies-a chamber
Of sixty members. to which all land
owners are eligible. and a senate com
posed of twelve members of the cham
ber. elected annually by that body
who act as permanent and contin-
uous advisory board to the executive
the chamber sitting only for few
weeks each year During the receses
the senate has authority to do any
| thing that is necessary but its actions
| must be ratified by the lower house
at its next session
The executive authority is intrusted
to two presidents called captains re-
gents, elected for terms of six months
| by ballot. There are no political
campaigns The seml-annual cleo
tlon is a sort of religious proceeding
and is held in the cathedral after
the celebration Of pontifical mass
The brief term of office gives every
member of the council a chance. for
only those who belong to that body
are eligible to the regency. for no
| member can be reelected until every
one Of the colleagues has enjoyed the
honor. SO that there is no opportunity
| to build up a machine. The regents
receive no salary or perquisites, but
are required to give their time and
. l..,,t
no compensation except the honor con
| ferred upon them, and there is a law
compelling acceptance upon the pain
of forfeiting citizenship and property
The bishop of San Marino presides
at the elections and receives the bal
| lots. either personally or by deputy
| Three days are allowed. so that every
male income tax payer over 21 years
of age may have chance to vote
| After the ballots are counted by the
| clergy in the presence of the retiring
| regents. who act as inspectors of cleo
| tlon. procession is Immediately
| formed. headed by the bishop, the
| members OF the sovereign council and
other officials. and marches from the
| cathedral to the government-house
with a band of music. and upon the
portico of that building each spring
ani fall the bishop administers the
oath to the newly elected regents and
confers his benediction upon those
who retire.
The regents have very little power
being subject entirely to the will of
the Legislature, which is a thoroughly
representative body. having one mem
| ber for every $50 men. women and
| children and one for about every TWEEN
| ty-five or thirty voters. n sort of refer
endum system similar to that of Swift
zerland is adopted in special cases upon
| petition. 1t is similar to our own
method of submitting constitutional
| amendments to vote of the people
| II an unusual expenditure of money or
any innovation or any matter of vital
| Importance Is proposed. one-fifth Of
| the members OF the council may, upon
request. have the question submitted
| to vote of the people at the next
| election, and their verdict Is final.
This practice might be introduced into
the legislatures of our states with
wholesome effect, so that the people
| could decide directly and within six
months after a proposition is announc-
ed whether we shall destroy or en-.
courage the Industries of Cuba and
the Philippine islands. whether we
shall build the Panama or the Nicara-
qua canal, and whether the capital of
our Country shall be improved and
beautified as rapidly as possible upon
Mr.. Burnhams plan.
The upper house of the council has
no regular time for meeting. 1t can
be called together at any hour by
either of the presidents by sending
the janitor to ring the palace bell.
When the members of the council en-
gagged in their fields or shops or of
fees hear that bell--and it can be
heard all over the republic-they
have two hours time to reach the
capital Members who do not re
spond and cannot give a good excuses
are compelled to pay heavy fine.
There are no secret meetings and
no locks on the doors. Theoretically
the public is always present. and any
citizen of San Marino has the right to
enter the office of a regent. no matter
what is going on. but he must not in
terrupt n conversation. Ii is just as
II the free and independent citizens
OF Illinois had the right to enter Pres
ident Roosevelts cabinet room at any
time and listen to the discussion OF
the cabinet.
The public has access to all docu
ments and records. and, taking one
consideration with another. no gov
ernment that | ever heard of Is so
absolutely run by its citizens. The
plan of having two presidents appears
to have been adopted when they di-
vded the entire duties of the exeeu-
tive department between them In
early days they attended to every
thing. collecting the taxes and dis
bursting them. but now there are two
cabinet ministers and several per
manent clerks, who keep the records
and assist the regents to carry out
the will OF congress. There is an
unwritten law that one of the regents
shall be elected from among the farm
ers and the other from the business
community.
Tho rayppuaS of fh state "a mount To