The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-08
KRUPP AIDS HIS men.
Pleasing Picture Of Harmony in
These Troublous Times Of
Strikes.
How the Great German Manu-
facturer Helps His Employees
to Comfort.
Essen. One Of the Worlds Greatest Hives
Of Industry, Where Regard is Had
For the Toiler.

DEs WI OoulOauClS u 1'oVoAANA oAAASA''A
with strong prejudice in favor of indus
trial paternalism, has been lectur1ng in
Munich recently about the benefits which
the great Krupp has conferred on the peo-
pie of Essen of late years. Forty years
ago Essen had but three thousand inhabi-
tants.
"Steam machinery, the railways, the tele-
graph and the modern mode of warfare"
said DIR. Jodlbauer, shave altered all the
conditions of life there since then. In the
year 1888 there worked in the establish
ments of this one man 1865 men. They
had 13,O83 children in the obligatory school
years and 81, G93 other persons dependent on
them for support. \ In Krupp's
works there were 65,3S1 persons.
Most of them had immigrated to Essen.
They lacked much that they had been
accustomed to-schools, churches, hospitals
and the like. It is evident that such con-
dition of affairs must have evil results. The
increase of Essen's population increased
the price of land. The owners of the land
grew rich. The workingmen's quarters
The lack of living room pushed the men
into the saloons, which rose in number from
three to seventy. The middlemen and
money lenders we're multiplied skiold. The
discontent swelled with the accumulation
Of debts. The increasing evils OF the sltua-
troduced death and illness fund. 1t cost
the workingman 2 per cent OF his wages and
the factory paid the rest. The total annual
number Of illnesses is now Y,OOO; the
amount of the insurance fund $500, eco.
"In 1854 Krupp also established pen
sion fund, which now amounts 70 $5 oe'0oo
The annual pensions are about SPOON
and increase $500 every year. The
workinpman's contribution to the pension
fund is per cent of his wages, to which
the factory adds its share of the burden.
The average monthly pension is $l3
for the man himself and $L2o 1of MS
widow.
"In 1867 the factory began negotiat-
ing life insurance policies for the work
incmen. In 1882 1,7SS persons were in
sured for $675, 900; that is, about 1875 each.
The cost of insurance was 30 cents for every
'"rhe administration of all the funds
was paid for by the factory, and was par
ticipated in by the workingmen. The ad-
ministrative committee consists of presi-
dent and member chosen by the factory,
and four members chosen by the general
convention. Refusal of an election to
the committee is punishable with fine OF
"As mentioned, the factory workingmen
must pay per cent to the illness and death
fund, per cent to the pension fund, and
81 per cent for life insurance, II they wish
at their deaths. Beyond the per cent
therefore, which the factory pays, the vari-
GUS funds absorb Ga per cent of the work.
ingman's annual wages, that is about TWEEN;
ty-three days of his labor.
This burden is heavy. 1t is considerably
lightened by the arrangement that he gett
ali the necessaries of ife-like clothes
food, and house furniture. at low prices
from the central distributing concern. This
concern is conducted by the factory, buys
in large quantities. and sells almost at cost
for cash. It includes a bakery, slaughter
embarrassing machine with an enor-
nous daily capacity, and petroleum store
house for seventy barrels.
"Krupp began erecting workingmen't
houses at his own expense in 1868. Aftel
twenty wears he had 5 ,2O8 houses. with IL, 2Ol
and water for thirty-seven cents per year
The rents return no profits on the invested
capital, but only low rate of interest
Krupp helps any employe who wishes t
build and own house. Since 1859 re ha
had fund of $125,oOO, on which any 4 hi
vorkinpmen, married and under 80, cal
draw for the purpose. The applicant mus
show that he has been three years in Krupp'
service, and has an annual income of a
least $50. He must pay $75 down and tn
rest of the loan in twenty-five annual IN
stallments, with 5 per cent. interest. Th
workineman must then live in his ow
house and own no other. = y The cos
of the preliminary work on the ouse an
the plans are paid by krupp.
r.'lhe public schools, with their twelv
classes, get their rooms free from the fat
tory. The factory always supports a pr
vate school with sixteen classes, and
housekeepers' school, with cheap dinner
for motherless children, and five industri,
schools wi h female instructors.
''The increasing size of the city, and IL
consequent competition for land and house
results in neither higher rents nor notice
leave for the workingmen in the factor
The workingmen do not live in their ow
houses yet, but the requirement of the
houses has been rendered comparative
easy for them.'