two palatial edifices in Florentine architecture, recently connected by the Swiss National Library, a magnificent domed structure, designed to accommodate the archives of the Swiss Diet and administration; the mint; the hospital, and the university. (For details as to the latter, see Bern, University of.) There a re various, scientific, musical, and social societies, hospitals, and benevolent institutions. The problem of dwellings for the laboring class also receives attention, and the city is in the van of this movement. The city gets water for its drinking supply, and for the motive power of its electric plants, by means of a dam 1000 feet long across the Aar. Its chief manufactures are woolens, silks, and cotton goods, scientific instruments, machinery, chocolate, etc. It has two great annual fairs and a large cattle and horse market. There are street railroads with compressed air and electricity as motive power. Steam roads run to the suburbs. The streets are lighted bv electricitv. Population, in 1000, 65,300.
The Franks subdued the present Canton of Bern in the early part of the Sixth Century. The region became part of the kingdom of Trans-Jurane Burgundy in SSS, afterwards formed part of the kingdom of Aries, and about 1034 was united with the German Empire. In 1191 Berthold V., Duke of Zühringen, founded the town of Bern, and upon his demise without issue in 1218. it attained the position of a free imperial city. From the beginning the inhaljitants of the city showed themselves bold in the defense of their rights and the extension of their power. They fought against the Hapsburgs and the Burgundians, and in 1339 succeeded in finally establishing their ascendency by defeating the rival town of Freiburg. By conquest and purchase the burghers of Bern increased their possessions until, at the height of its power, toward the end of the Sixteenth Century, Bern ruled over one-third of the present territory of Switzerland and held the leading place in the Swiss Confederacy, which it had joined in 1353. The government of the town from early times was democratic in character, with the legislative and executive authority vested in councils elected by the burghers; but about the middle of the Sixteenth Century a decided tendency toward aristocratic domination set in ; the right of citizenship was restricted, and the power of the State finally came to rest with a small number of wealthy families and the privileged guilds. Toward the rural districts which it ruled the town adopted a policy of consistent selfishness. It refused them all political rights and repressed insurrections among its disaffected subjects with great cruelty. The invasion of Switzerland by the French in 1798 overthrew the aristocratic regime and freed Vaud and Aargau from the domination of Bern. The struggle that went on throughout the Nineteenth Century between the Liberals and Conservatives resulted in the substantial victory of the former party. The power of the Church was limited, the State Constitution was repeatedly revised in a democratic sense, and after 1S70 the principle of the referendum was developed with great completeness. Consult: iliilinen. linn's Geschichte, 1191-18111 (Bern. 1891): Haendeke and Mueller, Das iliiiister in Bern (Bern. 1894).
BERN', bem, Ger. prnn. bern (Fr. Berne).
The second in area and the most populous and
important of the cantons of Switzerland, situ-
ated in the northwestern ])art of the country,
bordering on France on the north and west
(Map: Switzerland, B 1). Its area is 2657
square miles. The canton belongs geographically
to two mountain systems. The Jura ranges cover
its northeastern part, while the Alps traverse
the southern portion. In the centre the surface
is only slightly elevated and is crossed by the
fertile valleys along the Aar. Bern belongs to
the basin of the Rhine, and is watered chiefly by
the Aar and its tributary, the Emmen. The chief
lakes are Thun. Brienz. and Bienne. Bern is
essentially an agricultural canton and is one of
the best cultivated portions of Switzerland. In
the lower parts grain and fruit are raised, while
in the mountain regions more attention is paid
to the raising of domestic animals and to dairy
industries. The mineral products include iron,
granite, gypsum, and turf. Mineral springs are
abundant, and there are numerous mountain re-
sorts in the southern part of the canton. Bern
has several well-developed industries, among the
most important being the manufacture of tex-
tiles, watches, and metalware. In spite of the
mountainous character of its surface, the canton
has good transportation facilities; its railway
mileage is one of the largest in Switzerland.
The form of government is pvirely democratic.
The Grand Council, elected by the people at the
rate of one member to every 2000 inhabitants,
is the sole legislative body, while the Executive
Council of nine members, nominated by the
Grand Council, is intrusted with the executive
part of the administration. Members of both
Houses serve four years. Every financial trans-
action involving more than 500,000 francs must
be submitted to a referendum. For administra-
tive purposes the canton is divided into thirty
districts, administered each by a prefect elected
by the voters of the respective districts. The
Supreme Court of the canton consists of fifteen
members appointed by the Grand Council for
four years. Primary education is compulsory,
and the expenaes are borne by the communes.
The University of Bern (q.v. ), a poly technical
school, and a number of gjtnnasia and pro-
ginunasia provide higher and seeondarv educa-
tion. Population, in 1888, 539.305 : in 1898, 549,-
387. Nearly 90 per cent, of the inhabitants are
Protestants, and the remainder Catholics, with
the exception of about 1250 .Jews. The German
language is spoken by over 85 per cent, of the
population, and French and Italian by the re-
mainder. For history, see Been (city).
BERN, Conference of, or Disputation of.
A conference held in 1528, which led to the establishment of the Reformation in Bern. Some years before the Bishop of Lausanne demanded the indictment of certain preachers of Reformed doctrines, but the city council refused to interfere. The conflict increased steadily until, on November 27. 1527. the great council of the city decided to settle the disputes by appeal to the Word of God. Invitations were sent to the bishops of Constance, Basel, Lausanne, and Valais, and all the Swiss cantons were asked to send
delegates and learned men. The bishops declined, and Charles V. advised trust and recourse to the anticipated general council. But the Bern Council was held. January 5-2G, 1528, and as the result Bern went definitely over to the side of the Reformation. The local reformers were Francis Kolb and Berthold Halle, who drew up the ten
