The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-23
Main Features OF the System OF
Just Distribution OF
Earnings.
Thew Are Pensions, Life InsNraaos, I'm
dowmsnt-Gsod Results THAT VIII
Follow Their Adoption.

MICH . Gull 70
that by being strictly Just to labor. and no
more, II serves its own sslf-intsrsss moss'
capital will adopt such u policy purely from
p%elf-intersst; and then that policy Will sue-
coed. My system of the Just Distriou'ion
of Earnings involves three main features.
First. the system Of pensions. by WHOM
employees can retire with a pension OF from
40 to 100 per cent of their wages, according
TO the length Of their services. Afsef
twenty-five years service employees can re-
tire on a pension Of their full wages. Sec
oud, the system of life insurance.. BY whion
each employe receives policy Of $l,oUo aissf
Ave yenrs' consecutive service, announcer
RI. 900 after another Ave years of such SER
vice. and a third thousand after the thira
term Of five years Of such consecutive ser
vice. The firm Of course pays the prsmiums
IN such policies. Third. = system OF en-
dowment. by which all employees VINO oy
their skill improve methods OF nanufactnr
ins, save material. or benefit the hrn In
any way outside of their regular Work. are
credited with such a portion OK me nfm's
earnings due to such efforts rs the books
show they are entitled to. after all proper
charges have been deducted. These sums
draw six per cent interest per annum, but
the capital is only payable when the bone
6ciary is 60 years Of ago or TO his family at
his death.
Il IL sasy to demonstrate that this system
Of pensions can be introduced IN any estao-
lishmsnt where men are employed. ~ mas
kecp in practice in my business for the psss
sixte On years, md produced the most oene-
fetal results. Aside from the fact hat 1t
made the mon employed coutented and
satisfied, Il enabled me. in one instance. to
disuense with tho services OF . man who
had for seventeen years been a most faith-
full worker, but who had passed the stage OF
ECONOMIC efficiency" without throwing
him upou tho world at the time when he
VAS incapable of earning a living. he has
hesn IN the pension list for three years
now. drawing over $500 per year; and MS
place has been filled by . young man. TO
the benefit of the business. .
.The insurance plan suggested itself to
INV min because of the we'll known gen
eral improvldence Of wage earners; and,
having been a wage Garner myself, 1 Know
that it is not in the power OF the majority
Of them to acquire even a habit OF SAVING
As a natur al consequence, when sne Dreaa-
family in a most dsplorsble condition
The insurance plan prevents. to some OK.
tent at least. the pAuper1sm OF ths seoonc
generation BY the death Of the bread. win
rer. and secures to his family the home
which he may have bought. paying TOT th'
same in i~nstallments according 10 hi
wages.
NV experience has been that the major-
ity of those who have insurance policies
have become house owners because or tnl
Insurance.. II is too self-eyldent that th'
widow and children of a wage Garner mas
.-nIA -.hA- AhnS, Jnon fhAi
supporter and must begin q hand-to-hane
struggle with poverty, and that the bright
future of the boys will be impaired. If not
destroyed. Into this situation enters hrs,
the money from life insurance and then ths
money from the endowment accounts tt
sustain the home and to assure the future
OF ell: while the employer has gained ia
more than the cost involved. not only the
absence of strikes aud labor troubles, bu'
by obtaining the enthusiastic cooperation
of his employees.
Whatever efforts might be made in tn
direction of adjusting the relations of cap
ital and labor, the basic idea should alwayl
be Il proper recognition Of the necessit.
that the waqe-earners must enjoy the mos
favorable conditions while working, ant
that thev must be placed beyond the fen
of want in their old age or for their fami
lies in case of death. Every progressiv
manufacturer ia continually aiming to i'm
GYDF0 ElS tliebEpIc. III Ao ~
makes proper allowance for the wear an,
tear of his machinery. SO that he may b
able to buy better machines. Nhv shout
he not do the same for his men! Why nc
tnsu 9 them. so that he can replace tner
with Younger men when they get old all
have given ali their strength to him?
believe that ultimately the wage-earne,
will become virtually pur:ne- 8 of their en-
ployers. The tendency of the times
toward concentration. and the grent con
binations which are almost daily formed al
all in the direction OF securing the create
economic efficiency at the lowest Lossib
cost. These great corporations will
bette. able to treat the labor question just
and successfully than any large number
small manufacturers or business me
could ever be expected to do; and it is wit
that nus stion, az with SO many others {
our industrial statutes, we have to loo
chiefly to the further development o: gre'
ttusts and combinations for the just On
satisfactory solving OF the labor questiol
As the factory system elevated the workiu
classes from serfdom to personal indepsr
dence. self protection will also imPel the.
industrial Institutions Of the futnte to re-
oenize the W, ge-eerner's title to all
e~a-ns.-Alfred Dodge in the Dolgevil
Herald.
The Worlds Fair-Whnt 1t Means.
49,