Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1375

 SOCIAL INSURANCE— FINANCE

13 23

Confederation and cantons ; between cantons and cantons ; between the Con- federation or cantons and corporations or individuals, the value in dispute being not less than 3,000 francs ; between parties who refer their case to it, the value in dispute being at least 3,000 francs : and also in such suits as the constitution or legislation of cantons places within its authority. There are also many classes of railway suits which it is called on to decide. It is a Court of Appeal against decisions of other Federal authorities, and of can- tonal authorities applying Federal laws. The Tribunal also tries persons accused of treason or other offences against the Confederation. For this pur- pose it is divided into four chambers : the Chamber of Accusation, the Criminal Chamber (Cour d' Assises), the Federal Penal Court, and the Court of Cassation. The jurors who serve in the Assize Courts are elected by the people, and are paid ten francs a day when serving.

Each canton has its own judicial system for ordinary civil and criminal trials.

On December 31, 1919, the prison population (condemned) of Switzerland consisted of 3,187, of whom 400 were women.

Capital punishment exists in Appenzell-I.-Rh., Obwalden, Uri, Scbwyz, Zug, St. Gallen, Luzern, Wallis, Schaffhausen, and Freiburg.

Social Insurance.

The Swi«s Federal Insurance Law (insurance against illness and accident), as pawed by both Chambers on June 13, 1911, was accented by the electors of the Republic with a small majority. The total number of votes cast was 523,731, of which 235,037 were for and 23S.'">94 against the measure.

All > b are entitled to insurance against illness, and foreigners also mar

be admitted to the benefits of the law. Compulsory insurance against illness does not exist as >et, but cantons and communities are entitlrd 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 employee*.

Insurance against accident is compulsory for all officials, employees, and workmen of all the factories, trades, Ac, which are under the Federal liability law. Every person above the age of 1* can insure voluntarily at the Federal insurance administration (or at any insurance corporation). The. Swiss Accident Insurance Institution commenced operations on April 1, 1916. In 1913 the societies insuring against illness had members.

Finance.

The entire net proceeds of the Federal alcohol monopoly (301,380/. in 1920) 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

1916 1917

191S

£ 7,083,2*0 23t> 8.863.203

1 150 li:34S;990

1019 1950 19211

£ 11,475,171 13,742.254 14,333,600

£ 15.301,393

.-.723 20.937,600