New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

rae PRIMER OF POLITICAL KcoSoMY BY AIs.ap
?. MAsoS and Jo,S =; LABOR limo pp' o. oh0~s0'
Assuming that the unsettled theories of po-
nticai economy which cannot yet claim the rank OF
science are adapted the elementary course OF common
school instruction and that the hypothesis Of free trade
affords suitable basis for manual of study this little
volume may be commended TO the attention OF teachers
who wish to try the experiment for themselves The au
Shors admit that only short time can be allotted to
subject Of which even the history would almost MI
small library and they have accordingly aimed at the
preparation Of textbook much smaller than any in or
binary use and which be thoroughly studied without
any undue interference with other branches The au
thors make no prctension to originality They have
freely consulted the standard works the subject IN
English French and, German, the leading principles OF
which they have presented in simple language and with
An abundance apt illustration The chief merit Of their
volume consists In its terse lucid statements They
have the theories they undertake to set
forth into the smallest compass and never nduige IN
vague or ambiguous expressions In point OF style the
work ia model for textbook, and will do excellent
service In training the pupil 70 habits OF accurate thought
and TO the use OF perspicuOus language. On several
topics practical interest the remarks OF the authors
have great force exhibiting the subject in light which
cannot fail TO impress even the most superficial
readers. Thus the bad policy OF strikes 10
illustrated by O few brief sentences, which have
almost the weight Of axioms The advantages OF CO
operation as method Of production and distribution are
shown by several striking examples. One OF the most
remarkable Of these presented in the Briggs Brothers
Coal Mining Company in Yorkshire The owners of the
collieries were always In hot water with their men,
who desperate set OF rowdes rs could be lound
IN England Tho hands had an unpolite saying In de-
scrbng their employers "A coal owners Is deVs put
Byegr Is the prince OF devils" Strikes were frequent
The workmen took holidays the slightest pretext IL
WAS enough for a boy throw up his cap and shout,
"Iets stop work to-day" 10 induce the whole crowd
10 knock of and idle away the rest OF the day Every
day that this took place loss Of at least thousand
dollars to the Company The brothers at last decided 70
try plan of cooperation proposed by Prof. Fawcett
They formed a jont-stock company, and issued about
10000 shares Of $50 each dividing the proceeds first,
by paving per cent all the shares, which the men
were allowed buy, and pay for in instalments, and
then distributing the remainder OF the profits into two
equal parts paying o. the parts TO the capital stock
and the other workmen in proportion 10 the wages
each had earned during the year Thus II Dennis had
earned 600 ana Michael 800 during the year Dennis
would get twice much Michael Of this dividend on
labor The results Of this were admirable The men
having promise OF half the profits over 10 per cent on
the stock did all they could TO raise the profits above
that amount They worked steadily. They were care
fu Of the tools They practiced economy in every way
IL became the interest OF all that each should work
They acted as ovcrseers for each other
Idleness. drinking, and rioting were frowned
down, by the common feeling of the workmen,
and became far less frequent The pest UNDERSTANDING
sprang up between the hands and their employers All
questions about wages and hours OF work were settled
by friendly talks. From the very commencement the
division profits satisfactory aud for eight years,
during which the plan has been in operation there has
been constant Improvement The profits received by tbs
owners increased about 10 cent while the work
men have had annual dividends their labor and part OF
the profits been used in the support OF library and
schools for the benefit OF the miners and their families
The functions money and the evils Of an nconvertbe
paper currency clearly eucidaed although the state
ent that the only considerable change in the value OF
gold since the earliest period of history was caused by
the discovery OF the South American and Mexican mines
will hardly stand examination. The usual arguments for
free trade against the system Of national protection
are set forth with considerable ingenuity but they Will
find pretty conclusive reply in Mr. Whartons snguary
able paper In the last number Of the Atlantic Monthly