1294
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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