The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-09

scott kuSsell'S Plan OF Labor Reform.
| There is scarcely ANAL which reaches
this country from England that does
not bring fresh proof that the English
workingmen are beginning to feel their
own power, and that, in the absence of
any effort on the part of the classes
socially above them to elevate them,
they are taking the matter into their
own hands, and acting very intelligently
and with concert Of purpose which
must, sooner or later, compel legisla-
ton or lead to a social revolution. The
manifesto of Mr.. Scott Russell, one of
the most practical and clear-headed
business men in England, is one OF the
most important features OF the new
movement. His proposition looks to
the social elevation of the wOrkingman,
and claims for him some share in the
wealth which he so largely contributes
to create, besides recognizing fact,
which has never yet been sufficiently
needed in any country, that man Is
as valuable in dollars and cents to a
nation as any material he may create,
and that the more the man is improved
the more valuable he is to the nation.
Mr.. Russell has looked at the question
from purely business point OF view.
and, if his argument lacks the senti-
ment with which humanitarian ques-
tons are usually treated, there is a
logic of hard facts and figures about it,
against which sentiment can make very
little headway
The general features of Mr.. Russell's
plan are to get the workingmen out of
the crowded cities into the wholesome
air OF the country and in order to do
this, he proposes that cities, towns, and
villages shall purchase certain area OF
their outlying lands,-one-ha half of which
shall be devoted to cottages with gar
dens, the other half to be common
ground within which may be inclosed
school houses. town hall, market
house, recreation grounds, etc.. and
that these shall be appropriated to the
use of workingmen, subject to certain
financial conditions, which will pay the
interest on the investment, and eventu-
ally liquidate the principal. In regard
to this project, Mr.. Russell reasons
thus
There seems no doubt that the capital
wanted for these purposes cannot be
less than Gl50,000, 900 sterling. This is
the price of a war; but it differs from
a war in this respect that it is not
waste, but investment. The rentals of
the cottages and gardens will defray the
interest and repayment of this Gl50,-
100000, and the land tax will enable
the artificial value of the land to be
converted into consols. All the prop.
erty will remain in the country, and the
country, and the increased value of the
human beings reared upon it (if | must
express the value of human beings in
coin) will be 100000 skilled men,
worth to the country mole than ESQ.,.
100000 per annum in the enhanced
value or the productions Of their in
dustry
Having thus located the workingmen,
Mr.. Russell proceeds to lay down the
principles upon which these communi-
ties are to be managed. His theory of
government is practically republican,
and the same as exists in American
cities, except that it does not call for
the appointment of Board of Alder
men which omission, as Aldermen 90
nowadays, is perhaps fortunate Tor the
success of Mr.. iussells plans. The
municipal force of the community will
consist of a Mayor, to be elected by the
heads Of families, and to be paid at the
rate OF one shilling for every inhabitant
per annum, out of which, however, he
must pay all the costs he incurs and the
assistance he may require in the per-
Torrance of his duties County Sur
veyor and Superintendent of Works a
Government officer for the expenditure
and repayment of public grants of
money and Government loans an At
torney for the administration of justice,
and, in cities having over 10000 inhabi-
tants, Counsellor TO assist the Mayor
u Recorder and Chief of Police. In
these communities food is to be supplied
in small quantities, of best quality, at
wholesale prices, from the public mar
bets. Schools are to be established, not
only for elementary education but also
for practical knowledge and technical
skill. A days work is to consist of
eight hours of honest labor. The public
service is not to be left to accomplish
its work in its own way, but is to be or
ganized for the common good, and con-
templates the rapid, frequent, and
economic delivery of commodities by
postal delivery as in Switzerland.
These are the general features of Mr..
Russell's plan, which have been placed
in the hands of the leading working
men and noblemen of England for con.
sderation, with view Of having them
acted upon in Parliament.