420 THE QUESTIONS OF THE DAY. 



As we come down to municipal affairs the same considera- 

 tions apply, but in a less degree, because people know more 

 about the cities they live in than about their state or nation. 

 A wholesome check on modern city governments is undoubt- 

 edly a thing to be desired. Within reason, and properly 

 guarded by the people themselves, so as to avoid being 

 compelled, by a small body of agitators, to vote on proposals 

 which they do not desire to discuss, the more direct legislation 

 by the people there can be in American municipalities, the 

 better off they will probably be. There need be no fear of 

 hasty legislation by the people, or of unwise legislation ujxjn 

 questions upon which they have informed themselves. 



There is one country in the world where both the initiative 

 and the referendum are firmly established. Since 1874 the 

 people of Switzerland have been able to compel the submis- 

 sion of all federal laws, unless formally declared to be of an 

 "urgent" nature, to be submitted to the direct vote of the 

 people. To secure this, as a matter of right, there must be a 

 petition signed by thirty thousand voters, or by the authorities 

 of eight cantons, which must be presented -\;^uthin ninety days 

 of the adoption of the lavr by the Federal Legislature. Until 

 after the expiration of the ninety days allowed for petition, a 

 law does not become in force. The exception, as stated, is a 

 case of "urgency." Laws, when thns submitted as the result 

 of petition, are passed by a majority of those voting. 



In addition to this provision for submitting to the people, 

 upon proper demand, all laws passed by the Federal Legis- 

 lature, there is an additional provision, whereby upon petition 

 of fifty thousand citizens, new laws, not acted upon by the 

 Legislature, may be submitted. In this case the draft of the 

 proposed statute is included in the petition, upon receipt and 

 verification of which the Legislature must submit it to the 

 people. It may, at the same time, if it see fit, submit a differ- 

 ent law of its own, covering tlie same subject, but the people 

 decide. The above refers to the Federal Government. Many 

 and perhaps all the cantons have similar methods of employ- 

 ing both the initiative and the referendum. The universal 

 testimony is that tlie workings of the law are satisfactory. It 



