Session of the Swiss Chambers

Friedrich Engels (1848-11-19)

Bern, 12 November. The sessions of the two Swiss Chambers to date have not yet brought any of the more important questions to debate. The constitution of the two Councils, the debate on the publication of the proceedings (as is known, dropped for the time being without result), the rejection of the deputies elected with reservations against the new constitution were the main business of last week. In yesterday’s sitting, the oath for the federal authorities was drafted and the salaries of the Federal Council were fixed (the President 6,000 Swiss francs, the councillors 5,000 each, the Chancellor 4,000 and free lodging). The election of the federal capital and the appointment of the Federal Council will now no longer be able to be postponed. Also, the Vorort yesterday notified the two Councils of the measures taken regarding Ticino; Ticino has appealed from the Vorort to the new federal authorities; it is, however, not to be expected that these will modify or even overturn the decisions of their predecessor in office.