New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-22
LABOR REFORM IN FRANCE.
A SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE FROM THE PEN OF
NJ. JULES SIMON.
CALLING THE ATTENTION OF WORKING PEOPLE
TO WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE REALLY DOING
FOR THEM-THE OUTLOOK FAVORABLE
TO CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN
CALLING TIE
THE CONDITION OF EMPLOYEES.

FOR THEM-THE OUTLOOK FANOhADLG
TO CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN
THE CONDITION OF EMPLOYEES.
An article upon the labor question, published
by Jules Simon in &" Le Temps" of Paris, on
August 4. has attracted widespread attention
Among the great Frenchmen of to-day, few are so
we'll qualified to discuss such topics as he lie
has long been recognized rs of the most active
earnest and practical friends Of the workngmen
In early life a professor of political economy, ne
has always devoted much time and study 10 social
and economic questions. His political career has
been long and brilliant. lie has been Prime Min
ister of France and at the present time is Sena-
tor Of the Republic He was chosen as the head oil
the French delegation TO the Labor Congress held
in Berlin in 1890. He was recognized there as by
far the strongest man in the conference, ana was
treated with the greatest Difference and distinction
by the Emperor, OF Germany. All that NJ Simon
writes upon the labor question is worthy of deep
and careful consideration.
The translation OF the article IN " lie Temps
reads as follows:
The condition Of the labcring classes can be i'm
proved in three ways by Increasing their wages, oy
lessening their expenses and by making them as
sociates or partners in Industrial enterprises, either
by cooperation by proft-sharfns.
In a general way 1t IS true that worlinGmen no
longer favor oooperation about the year 1e43 they
dreamed OF nothing else. AT present they are en-
crossed with plans to increase their wages and to
shorten their hours of labor Employers, however,
are interested chiefly in the second system. the re-
ductlon ard dimlnutiOn Of expenses.
During a recent investigation Of the rates Of wages
several manufacturers declined to testify. They de-
claed that il was impossible judge of the condition
Of their employees by the price paid them for labor by
the hour Ii was necessary, they insisted to con-
slider what they had done to improve their condition
At another time l wish to write Of the influences
which lessened the enthusiasm OF Woruhgmen lor
cooperatIon. Later still l desire to speak Ol lhe
efforts made by certain corporations to render the lives
of their employees pleasant and less expensive
IA me indeed IT seems proper time 10 insist upon
these things. one of the railroad companies whose
men recently struck work gives annually more than
100000 francs 10 It's employees in addition to the
WAGES. Other companies, doubt, contribute as
much and even more money for similar purposes.
The leaders Of the labor Organizations de-
clare that they have no reason TO DC eFd'o-
ful for such donations, as they ore taken
from the enormous profits of the concerns. Buu the
profits are not always large. Somo companies III
deed ar. in debt stocks, too, often change hands,
They can be purchased IN the market at the ordinary
rate OF interest say per cent, with slght Varsons'
II IS good investment because the stocks are stsoe'
Formerly such an investment was more haLa'uOuS'
Employers would now have peace In al pIOoa-
biuty if they had devoted the money necessary 10
accomplish certain improvements III the conui'io-
Of their employees to the payment OF higher wages.
WHY did tbov not do sol Because, above all tmngSi
they prize the comfort and weIlbeing OF their men
and wish 10 prevent them as mucn rs possiDie run
wasting their own money WorklngIheh the"iso"o %
know when they stop 10 think, that they ought "a
be protected against their own imprudence' lhaeeu
they have often asked their superiors to Wthhom
advances upon their wages. That Is signlncaho' An
rdustrl, centres where they not properly cared
FOR there IS no doubt that they live miscrably ana
nav TOO much for the necessaries o. He
Societies for the erection Of houses at small cost
have been formed almost everywhere have visited
those at Rheims and Lyons, and intend to visit those
Of Bordeaux during the present vacation Fifty years
ago l assisted in the primitive experiments OF THIS
kind have tried cooperation. a company Oh
which I was president exhibited house and gained
r-ize IN 1867 Considerable progress has been made
since those days Comfortable lodgings with plenty OF
room air water and light, can be built now at prices
50 low that the former misery and former prtvaons
seem incredible. shortly all traces OF that misery VIII
disappear
have often written Of the improvements In the
management and construction Of the workshops Nu-
mcrous precautions against accidents have been intro
duced In all Of them. Physicians and drug-stores
are abundant. Wages are paid 10 employees In many
Instances even during sickness. Following the ex-
ample Of Jean DOlnIsS, many employers also pay
wages 10 women during their confinement. savings
Institutions asylums for the old and nfr1n, and mutual
benefit associations are to be found everywhere. In
fants' lives arc saved 'by preventing their mothers
from working too soon after confinement The laws
preventing the admission of children under fourteen
years Of age TO the workshops also them from
anaemla and consumption. Infant asylums, retreats,
primary schools, funds for frsh-ar excursions, funds
for the expenses of apprenticeship, scholarships In
professional and higher schools have been established
All great corporations have founded stores where their
employees can purchase their goods directly without
paving profits 10 the middlemen. The managers, or
stewards Of such buy wholesale at the proper
times and ntclgently. Workingmen find their goods
excellent and well selected. They purchase small
quantities at wholesale prices. They save at least 25
per cent. and IN many cases even 80 per cent on the
retail prices.
These reforms will be introduced everywhere If work
lncmen 20 hand In 17and with their employers. The
workers viii then be Wen clothed, well housed and well
fed They will be protected against accidents and will
DO cared for during sickness. Their Children receive
instruction and proper attention When their powers
are exhausted they will be entitled 20 pensions The
plan of NJ Constants which Is colossal reform. is still
only dream but pensions for tho aged and infm al
do not say that workngmen even with all Of thes.
provisions aud institutions, lead happy lite do no.
say that II j. not necessary 10 study the questions OF
higher wages and shorter hours OF labor. do not
ABANDON by the systems of cooperation anC
P is ~ ,hat enpIoyeTs 90 I've ey5dooca
of an integent and honest fraternal feeling that they
without exception are disposed 10 consider the methos
Of importing the condition OF their employs that tho
Governments have begun experiments along similar
lines that is not only in the interest Of workasmen
lut il Is their duty 10 help these movements rather
than to Obstuct aud retaTd them.
uUoTrp CT MS THE TUYTpy OFI RdTY