New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-16

! laws a clause WnlCn IL entuely unIehsouaoAS' ~
was not put in by the workmen, bat was forced
nm them by the Government when they got the
subsidy. It provides that the profits shall be d.
vided in the following manner 40 per cent among
the workmen; 50 per cent for reserved capital
and 10 per cent for reserve not belonging to the
members, never to be divided, but to be applied
in case Of dissolution to other associations or to
benevolent institutions In this way if the Asso-
citation should make 40 900 francs net profit (which
will soon happen,) it will have to pay 375 francs
interest On the Government loan Of 10000 fr. and
to lock up 1000 fr for this indivisibe reserve ;
20 that the loan will cost them about - per cent
When this indivisibe reserve shall reach 10000
f. the Association will have sum equal to that
they borrowed without being permitted to pay
their debt with it. We entreat the Government
to modify this barbarous and unjustifiable clause.
Though they pay labor as far as possible, by
the piece, they require 10 days labor in the fort.
night and SO hours for the 10 days. This is
minimum Of little more than hours day; but
it is permitted to work IL hours, which Is the
maximum. The well man who works less than
the required time is subjected to reprimand In
an order Of the day, posted up in the workshops
and after three ofenses can be expelled. The
minimum Of labor has been reduced to eight hours
at the request of sundry members who wished to
have time for reading and study.
"The collective interests and individual indie
pendence has been combined in the most In
genious manner Remarks OF one man upon
another which if inclined to severity, easily be-
come irritating, are avoided. slate is hung up
in proper place, on which each workman, asso-
ciate or supplementary puts down his name and
the hour of his arrival and departure. Absences
of less than an hour are not counted. Every
evening the account Of each mans time of labor
is made up by the bookkeeper. No errors and no
disputes occur; this simple formality is found
sufficient to keep the dilatory up to the mark.
"One or two workmen, according to the number
engaged in the workshops, are charged with the
oversight in respect to the excellence Of the work
and the preservation Of the materials. The fore
man has the right to reject, cause to be repair
ed, those articles which he does not judge receiv
able in case of difficulty the managing council is
resorted to- That the judges may be free and
impartial the name Of the workman whose work
is in question remains unknown till after the
decision.
EVERY evening the superintendent, assistedb by
a member whom he selects, receives the articles
made during the day every week he makes re-
port on the work performed
"The conduct of the establishment 10 delegated
by the members assembled in general meeting to
managing council composed OF seven members,
four of whom go out of Office year, and the other
three the next, so that all are in two years This
council, whose services are not paid, meets as
often as business may require at least once
week 1t decides as to purchases, sales, leases,
contracts to be taken, &c. 1t appoints the
cashier and book keeper, who must be members
i. engages or dismisses supplementary work
men; it dominates the superintendent to the
general meeting, and If necessary, proposes his
dismissal.
1.-THE superintendent who represents the ex-
ecutive authority, and holds in that capacity the
signature of the firm, is appointed for an indefinite
time We will notice here singular phenomenon
by which political bodies may profit This is the
real stability of power in proportion to it's appar
emit mobility According to their rule the super
intendent of the File Makers may be turned out
of Office any day In fact the Office has not chang
ed hands once since the beginning, and is still
held by the principal promoter OF the enterprise.
And why should his office be wished for? One
thing alone distinguishes him from his colleagues,
namely, heavier responsibility. His associates,
Justly approaching his zeal and his services, hav-
ing decided that his compensation should be rails
ed from to fr day, he refused the offer, until
the Association should be in a perfectly easy
condition. r
"The Association has two Offices for the sale o.
it's products and will soon have four workshops.
1t paws l,sOOf for rent and 2OOf for taxes.
month since it had already become the first estao'
lisbment in Paris as to the number OF workmen
employed. Within a few days distinguished
scientific man has conveyed to it the sole right to
use new mode of making files for which he has
taken out patent in France and also In England.
The business Of the Association will by this
means soon be increased to an extent now impos-
sible to calculate.
"The wages paid this year will amount to at
least 100000 independent of the sums reserved
for capital and for the indvsible fund. The wages
together with the shares in the profits, already
exceed by one.ifth the ordinary average OF earn
ings in the trade.
"The Association began like all others, amid
prejudice and distrust 1t has now open credits
for the purchase OF steel with the first makers IN
France. And this is not all rather heavy cap
ital being necessary to the profitable use OF
the patent above mentioned, it has borrowed
5O,OOOf. at s per cent. interest, the loaner also
having share in the profits of the patent
Apprentices are received gratuitously. The
apprenticeship is three years the first year the
learner earns nothing; the second, he receives
half the ordinary wages; the third, two thirds,
sharing also in the profits in the same proper
tions.
mo rule has yet ben established in relation
to mutual assistance For the present, the sick