The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-07-16
HUMANE EMPLOYERS,

Belgium, inEurOpe, hasa area about
equal 10 the State Of Maryland, and yet
has population of xix millions, yarl'
Ously engaged and active and indus
frious, Consul Wilson at Brussels sends
an interesting report TO the Government
In which he says harmony pre-
wallis between employers and employees,
40 the following extract will show:
As illustrative of the regard which
Belgium emplOyers entertain for their
operatives, the great linen factory OF NJ,
Ray, near Bruaaele, IN cited. This fac
tory employe 5000 operatives Three
per cent, OF tho wages VI all workers Ia
retained by the proprietor for an invalid
and pension fund. This entities every
employe TO the daily attendance OF q
physician, free OF charge, during illness,
Inyalids also receive one half their
wages, and when conyaleecing are
provided with meat and wine as the
phyalclan preacribes, Women giving
birth to children receive gTatnitous at
tendance. When a married workman dies
hia widow receives pension 10 one.
third OF his earnings for three years II
he has been leea than three years In Mr.,
Rey's employ, and 0ne-half his rate OF
wages II no has been employed over ten
years. Az q general thing this pension
Ia continued until the children are able
TO earn their own living, A pension OF
| &5 70 per month In paid for life TO lnyalid d
w0Tkmen after fifteen years continuous
service In the factory.
Mr. Rey buys all food supplies al
wholesale and selle the same TO his EN-
ployep, with an addition OF $40 5 PEI
cent additional To pay expenses, II any
fund should accrue from this transac
tlon II In held In reserve and expended
for the b0neat OF the work people. There
Ia q school and also o savings bank In
connection with tho factory Tor boy EN-
ployes. To encourage boys In econ0m
ical ways Mr.. Rey pays 10 per cent IN
lereat on all sums up TO 800 francs, aud
7H per cent on oil sums above that
amount. AT the age OF 20 the boys come
under the rules and regulations 10 which
the adult work people are subject.
Sisters OF the Sacred Heart" are EN-
ployed by Mr., Rey 10 teach the children
OF his employees, For this purpose two
buildings are act apart, the average
number Of pupils being about three
hundred and fifty.
Every workman can deposit hls say
ings In the General Workmen's Bank,
aud receive per cent, interest; this
sum Ia returned on demand. A work
man having In this bank o sum OF 500
can obtain euillclent loan TO enable
him TO build his own house. NJ, Roy
has about eighty houses OF three TO six
rooms, with gardens attached, which hC
rents at about half price to meritoriouf
workmen.
The working classes Of Holland are
reported as saving and trustworthy
The feeling between employer aud ON
ploye In fairly satisfactory, and Ia con
tinnally improving. The DOtch work
men are well represented In trade or
ganizatlons or unions, one OF the primo
ipal OF these telng the Grand Dutch
trades union, which aims at the anal
| gamation OF all trades, and adyOcatel
general suffrage, compulsory education
ten hours 10 constitute q days labor, {
Limitation VI tho work Of children, au(
general Advancement OF the Interest o.
labor through cooperation. IL woul(
seem 10 he freely understood In HOLLAND
that these trade unions are beneficial
alike both TO labor and capital.
II