Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1416

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SWITZERLAND

Social Insurance.

The Swiss Federal Insurance Law (insurance against illness and accident), as passed by both Chambers on June 13, 1911, was accepted by the electors of the Republic with a small majority. The total number of votes cast was 523,731, of which 285,037 were for and 238.694 against the measure.

All Swiss citizens are entitled to insurance against illness, and foreigners also may be admitted to the benefits of the law. Compulsory insurance against illness does not exist as yet, but cantons and communities are entitled under the act to declare obligatory insurance for certain classes or, in general, to establish public benefit (sick fund) associations, and to make employers responsible for the payment of the premiums of their employees.

Insurance against accident is compulsory for all officials, employees, and workmen of all the factories, trades, <fcc., which are under the Federal liability law. Every person above the age of 14 can insure voluntarily at the Federal insurance administration (or at any insurance cori)oration).

Finance.

The entire net proceeds of the Federal alcohol monopoly (259,600Z. in 1913) are divided among the cantons, and they have to expend one- tenth of the amount received in combating alcoholism in its causes and effects. Of the proceeds of the tax for exemption from military service, levied through the cantons, one-half goes to the Confederation and the other to the cantons.

Revenue and expenditure for six years : —

Year

Revenue

Expenditure

Year

Revenue

Expenditure

1907 1908 1909

£

5,836,570 5,895,640 6,227,140

£ 5,372,400 6,035,170 7,353,710

1910 19U

1912

£

6,674,608 3,921,764 3,710,400

£ 0,453,221 3,931,842 3,863.200

The following table gives the budget estimates for 1913

Source of Revenue

Trancs

Branch of Expenditure

Francs

Real Property

1,994,714

Debt, Total Charge

8,076,000

Capital invested.

4,669,972

General administration

1,603,400

General administration

120,800

Departments : —

Departments: —

Political

1,162,297

Political ....

22,000

Interior ....

17,113,547

Interior ....

11 9,. 350

Justice and Police

2,344,500

Justice and Police

1,003,000

Military ....

44,296,227

Military ....

3,740,100

Finance and Customs.

9,618,320

Financial : —

Commerce, Industry, and

Finance and Customs

83,754,000

Agriculture.

16,304,430

Commerce, Industry, and

Posts and Railways.

579,980

Agriculture.

1,088,000 1

Miscellaneous

2,056,299

Posts and Railways

2,210.050 1

Miscellaneous

13,014

Total.

lotal.

98,725,000

103,155,000

(3,949,000J.)

(4,126,2001.)

The public debt of the Confederation amounted, on January 1, 1910, to \ 4,977,200/., mostly at 3| per cent. The debt charge for 1909 amounted

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