The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-10-24
THE ARsEITER KoLoNIE.

y
lem of Dealing with the Unemployed
For several years a movement has been
+ progressing in Germany to solve logically
the problem of dealing with the unem-
ployed, independently of aims giving and
charities. Though little has been re-
ported of the societies having the work
III charge, there have been very satisfac-
tory results attained in the past three
years. and the success of the Arbeiter
kolonie, of Berlin. the most important
colony, has been Of a character to recon-
mend the plan to- all large cities of Europe
and Of the United States as well. How
TO deal with men out of work without
making them a charge upon the county
Is question for most serious considera-
ton; yet it has never been squarely met
nor studiously investigated. ANY one
who will take the trouble and look into
the labor and aid statistics of large city.
even in bounteous America, will be aston
ished at the large percentage of persons
capable of doing work who are, never
theless. objects of common charity, or
are on the dependent rolls of the country.
The condition is proportionately worse
in many European countries, but Ger
many is the only country in which has
been undertaken a practical plan of deal
ing with the idle classes that are willing
to work but are unable to find employ
ment.
The colonies referred to- of which that
of Berlin is the fittest example were or
ganized "to employ industrious and I'M
employed men of all professions and
classes, so far as they are really capable
of work, in agrarian and other labor
until it is possible to procure them re-
munerative work elsewhere and to help
them to quit the life of itinerants, and
also to remove the excuse of law vaga-
bonds that they have no work. The
Berlin colony was founded in 1888. 1t
has plot Of land several acres in ex-
tent, on which fruits, flowers and vege-
tables are cultivated. and several shops,
besides lodging and eating apartments.
where various trades and general work I
may be engaged i'll. An investment Of
more than s., 600 marks is represented.
Besides the garden and fruit culture the
occupations are straw plating, carpen-
tering, shoemaking and copying. and all
kinds and conditions of workmen are
represented, including tradesmen. clerks
and writers. apothecaries, engineers,
teachers. servants. etc. There are three
systems of employing colonists-work on
the premises on behalf of the institution,
work on the premises for outside parties.
who furnish their own tools and raw ma
terial, and work on the outside under
special agreement.
The cost Of keep is six shillings half
penny a day, but all earned in excess Of
this goes to the credit of the workman
who receives his surplus earnings on
quitting the institution. Some, of course.
do not earn their keep, and the colony is
not reimbursed for excess of expenditure
on their behalf The proportion Of hose
is not large. The two objects of tl..
colony, to do away with begging and
indiscriminate aims giving. and to give
the honest unemployed chance to work
till better employment can be secured for
them, are doubly encouraged by the
public. That is to say. the householder
gives to the beggar at his door a ticket
emitting him to admission to the colony
where work may be had. and general
employers give preference to the applica
tions of ~ colony. So well has the plan
worked that, despite its comparative
newness in the Teformatory field, the
Berlin colony has received 505 colonists.
all Of whom We're relieved from pressing
went and most of whom were helped to
Bea tied employment at their own trades
Small as these figures are in them
selves, they are large when taken into
account with the fact that there is less
mendicancy in Berlin than in any other
great city of the world. Indeed, Ger
many is exceptionally free from beggars.
Moreover, the colonies are only for those
who can and will work. but are unable
to find employment We hardly need
moralize on the good results possible to
be accomplished by an institution that
steps in between unemployed worl1men
and beggary on starvation, or the crimes
of desperation Nor need it be urged
t at there are few better WAYS for thu
utility Of practical philanthropy. The
moral influences of such a movement are.
incalculable, and the material good to be
accomplished not inconsderable. An in
stitution of the kind could quickly be
made self supporting; or if it were not
the indiscriminate charities now SO lib
orally dispensed could be turned wisely
to its maintenance. 49, Chicago Inter
Ocean.