The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-02-10
TIE Labor Problam.


Mr.. Briggs thepF proprietor of the Whit ~
we'll eolieries ~ England, has lately adj
dressed several letters to the Dendee ADvER- f1se
User on the subject Of the muual associa- ~.
tion of capital and labor Three different m
plans appear TO have been tried in different
parts OF the country, aud all have proved ,r-
more or less successful; first. the association m
system; second, the bonus systemi third, the ~ M
bonus and association systems, combined.--fsr,
Mr., Briggs seems TO be most faEoThbly inn af
pressed with the advantages of the last of =, ~
| these three systems end states that he has -l
arrived at this conclusion from stadying its -,..
practical workings among his own men at =
Rhitxell. 81 rsrr e.a-.,,.f - .-,,.-.
II Mf l5riggs has digested the result of his,
own personal experience into regular
scheme, with a view to furthering the OBJ ~.
ject which he has so much at heart.o For !.
the complete carrying out of his theory. he
proposes the following arrangement. -,
lE l. The manager and workmen to. be paid r -
salary and wages at the current rate of res r.
lmuneration. A--it ~ g.......r... - ~
/ Il 2 Out of the profits preferential inter- -
est to be paid on the capital invested equal ~
TO the average amount of interest and profit
in the particular class of business. A SUM isr
to be also reserved, if necessary, for replace o
ment of plant or stock. ~, 9 ,r6fse,,frs..,-l
b ANY balance Of edlYisible profit 70 besdiI sdr
Yided as o. bonus in the form of an equal. ,.5'.
percentage over the aggregate amount of
capital invested and of wages or salary 40,
earned during the period N which such pro- eer,
fit has accrued. ,,74,
Iag 4. The managers may; if they think ft -,..
reserve portep of the profits to form an ,-,l.
invested capital reserve fund and a labor Il,
capital reserve fund, y apportioned between
the two in the proportion Of the capita, to iass
the gross wages trss,.o 49,, e,-..f., ~ -.
~ Where the business is liable to fuctna- -
tons if in any year there has not been
made profit sufficient TO pay the prefer
ence interest on, capital the deficiency to ,.eo,
be made up either ont of the reserve funds, ,,a
il any,ol out Of extra profits in future years
before distributing any part of them as, BON
as. And in like manner. provision may, If .,--'T
| thought desirable be-made for capitalization,
OF reserved funds when an extension of the ssrg
business is deemed proper. lf~rfv p54ra 2 ~ 81 ~
a. OF the suocessful results of working !;
OF OF this system, Mr. Briggs gives some very /, ~
encouraging enc proofs he shows that the res
ception by the workmen of proportion of .,.,-5
] the surplus Profits, whether. as a percentage -
on Invested capital Or bonus to their wsg-. ,,,,
ees, not only acts as stimulus to increased
industry but edds c0nsiderpbly 70 tHs profit
OF o.. the undertaking from tho ecoppmy, EN-,
gendaered among them BY mutual, interest I. -
IN the use Of stores In, fact where there 49,
used 70 be much waste, there is. now only -.
necessary Consumption. OF the moral in ~.
/ hpepces of this copartnership be.ween en- -
iployer and employed Mr., Briggs also speaks
very warmly and asserts that ...workmen {. +.
employed in the Whitwen collieries. who
formerly spent a large balance of their
weekly earnings in drink, are now adding
share to share, and thus rapidly becoming
small capitalists y 1o1ali3e ia2i9ail 8oh