New-York tribune., 1910-09-11
THE TWO PRESIDENTS
A Study in French and Swiss
Governmental Contrasts.
Paris, August 20

Paris. August %
Franco-Swfss friendship, which has
lust been enthusiastically proclaimed by
the festivals at Berne during the official
visit of President FaIlieres to his Swiss
colleague, President Comtesse. has sug-
sested to the fertile imagination or NJ
Henri Rochefort conversation concern
ing the respective situations OF the
heads of the two republics The TWO
Presidents chat about their salaries and
attributions.
'I.'' remarks Fallieres. 'get S24o'ODo
year. besides an additional S12O.ooO FOR
expenses of entertaining and cost OF
representation
'I." replied Comtesse. "only get Sl'6V
a wear for three years, after which the
Federal Council chooses among Its mem
hers another man to carry out It's de-
cisions."
But, who pays for your 'maison MILL
taire'-t1e military establishment Of your
household?"
"Why. I have no household other than
my own private lodging. where live
very din 6fDC0N
on official as we'll as unofficial occasions
Just like any other Swiss citizen"
DO you never have q military escort ~
Never, Moreover, half the inhabi-
tants Of Switzerland do not even know
my name"'
But who is intrusted with deciding
questions Of war or peace"
Council of Cantons. I only have the
right TO put in writing and execute the
decisions OF the Parliament. I do not
even have the trouble Of selecting min
listers"
my dear Comtesse, I am often ex-
tremely preoccupied with the narrowing
problem of capital punishment. How
do you exercise the right Of pardon for
criminals who are sentenced to death?'
why, I don't exercise it at ALL
Among our twenty-eight cantons a GER
tain number have maintained capital
punishment, while others have abolished
it Each canton is Independent in this
respect. In any case 1t is none Of my
business. Local autonomy Is the key
feet f@trO~ of Capitalization. which
would place power in the hands of the
executive government and which would
only serve. 10 spread corruption during
elections"
I'm France things are quite different.
Our prefec;s are merely the upper SER
wants of the government. Thanks 10 the
admirable inventions Of the telegraph
and telephone, We can instantly order
our functiOnaries to tamper with bal
lots, TO shuttle about the election urns,
and to take away rom disagreeable
candidates as many votes as may be
needed and add them to those of off,
c!al candidates, SO as to insure election
Of the right men without these lit
lie tricks of the trade. it would be i'm
possible for my ministers to maintain n
good working majority. How does your
republic manage to live without increas-
ing expenses and patronage? Under
what conditions Go YOU gather the
taxes?''
I'VE have reduced all expenses 70 the
minimum. We have also kept the num-
Der OF official positions down to the
smallest possible. We have even pro-
hibitcd the sale OF absinthe and spirits,
which We're great sources of revenue,
but which brutaIize the people"
With us IN France It IS exactly the
contrary. We encourage the sale of alb
sinthe, rum and other alcoholic drinks.
which yield the best part OF our reve-
nUc- Just so with tobacco. which brings
Us in on an average nearly S1OO 900 O.0
yearly"
In Switzerland the sale OF tobacco is
free"
And how about playing cards"
They are also Tree from taxation"
'I:ut, my dear Comtesse. you are on
the high road to bankruptcy. In Fcancc
we load taxes upon taxes upon our 'ad-
ministries even TO the air they breathe.
and even then we do not make both ends
meet
"Ah. No doubt that is bccaus, IN
France you have o"cr cich. hundred
thousand government functionaries 10
support
NJ. Henri Rochefurts little Voitarian
squib ct some of the alleged abuses of the
French republic IS widely read through
out France. Although exaggerated. it Is
effective. c. T. E