The record-union., 1893-11-03
NO DRONB IN THE HIVE.
Life in a Colony of Socialists in
Peru.
Labor is Compulsory But is Paid for,
There is No Marriage, Children are
Cared for BY the Government, and
Everything is Held in Common.

ABOUT one hundred miles inland from
the northern coast of Peru lies little set
tIement the residents Of which are SUBJ
Ject TO no laws except their own, and to
no government save of their own crea-
uon. Protected by the Peruvian Govern
ment IN their independence and in undis-
turped possession of their lands by a
PERUVIAN grant. they are left alone to en-
JOY the fruits of their chosen method of
living. A writer in the Los Angeles
Times thinks that some of their laws
ana customs might well be copied by
older Governments, while there are
others which no American citizen could
possibly endure. That they are unique
and original there can be no doubt.
In the first place they are socialists pure
and simple. The colony is founded upon
very broad socialistic pr1nciples-not
only the property and earnings of the in
dividual belong to the Government but
the individual himself is owned by it,
barring his soul, and that is left entirely
alone to do with as the individual pleases.
Religious subjects are not discussed,
and heavy penalty is imposed upon
anyone who publicly or habitually
speaks on subjects pertaining to a future
state" The Government prefers to let
the matter severely alone.
The Buenos Amigos colony was found
ed by Don Jose Rodriguez, Peruvian
gentleman of means, in 1858. Seventy
five persons were its original settlers.
The number has been augmented by
others and by natural increase in popula-
ton until it now contains population OF
nearly a thousand souls. Any person
may become a member Of the colony
upon being elected by a majority vote of
the congress-" and paying into the
treasury of the colony an equivalent in
American coin OF $500. This admission
fee is charged for two reasons. First, be-
cause person who has accumulated that
amount of money is supposed to be a per-
son of steady and industrious habits, and
second, because they want no drOnes in
their midst. They make no objection to
the nationality Of proposed members,
except to Indians and negroes.
HOW THE COLONY Is GOVERNED.
At present the colony is composed Of
about two-thirds Chileans, Peruvians
and Brazilians, and one-third German,
English and Americans. There are about
dozen Americans all told The colony
is divided into departments, divisions
and sections. Each department controls
number of divisions, and each division
partments, namely, of labor, of educa-
ton, of commerce and of health, all of
which are presided over by officers called
ministers, and these four ministers when
acting together are called the tribune.
The tribune, collectively is the head of
the department of justice and finance.
The department of labor is divided into
divisions" namely, of agriculture, of
building, of stock raising, of manutact
ure, of export and import and of i'm
provements; the department Of educa-
ton into that of schools, of music and of
arts; the department of commerce into
that of imports, of exports and of distri-
button. The department of health is di-
vided into divisions Of Housekeeping, of
hospitals and of minors. Each of these
divisions is presided over by a ''Superin-
tendent." i he divisions are in their
turn subdivided into sections, over each
of which presides a chief.
Now a word in regard to the division
minors in the department of health. 1t
must be remembered that the individual
is the property of the Government. The
Government therefore, takes charge of
the child when 1T first comes into the
world and cares for it. The mother and
child are both taken in hand, first by the
hospital, then the nursery, and, as the
child grows, it begins, under the care OF
the teachers, to acquire an education, and
SO on until it becomes an adult and takes
its place at the helm of the Government
and labors with the others. Each section
elects its own chief, the chiefs of each sec
ton of division elect their own superin-
tendent, and the superintendents Of each
division of department elect the minis
ter OF that department.. All officers hold
their positions until they are removed by
petition from majority Of those who
placed them in Office, Endorsed by the
officer Of the department or division next
above. In the case of ministers major
lty vote of Congress-" which is COM
posed of all the voters in the colony, is
necessary for removal.
LABOR IS TINE AND MONEY.
The financial system of the colony is
simple. Labor is money! is the prin-
ciple upon which the colony is organized,
and so also with their currency, the hour
being the unit upon which all labor is
based. The uniform wages paid for labor
of any kind is equivalent to 30 cents per
hour in American coin. Thirty cents,
therefore, is called san hour" Their
circulating medium consists of checks or
tickets, and is divided into six different
kinds, viz: Minutes, hours, days, weeks,
months and years. In American money
R"minute" is equivalent to half cent,
the hour" to 30 cents, the day" to
81 40, the week" to Sl2, the month to
$50 So and the year" to S633 90. These
CHECKS are all Ol Inc same size ana are
made OF pasteboard one inch wide and
two in length, the words minute"
day" ETC., stamped into it in relief.
Each denomination has different color,
the minute on white pastebOard, the hour
on red, and so on. Their monetary table,
as taught in the schools, reads:
Sixty minutes make one hour,
Eight hours make one day,
Five days make one week,
Four and two-hfths weeks make one month
Twelve months make one year.
All produce, such as grain, wool and
ores, is handled by the division of export
and import and all the products of the
colony find ready sale in the Lima
market. Everything purchased for the
settlement, such as those articles which
cannot be raised or manufactured at
home, is purchased by this same division.
All members of the colony procure their
necessarieS from the Government store or
warehouse at cost price. Dwelling
houses, barns, IN fact, all buildings, are
erected and owned by the Government,
as well as the household furniture. All
dwellings are furnished alike by the
Government, but there is nothing to pro-
hlbit people from purchasing additional
furniture. ornaments. etc., il they wish to
do so.
LABOR Is ENFORCED AND SUPPLIED.
Every person over the age of 20 is ex-
pecteu W ueNote iour nourS per DAY to
labor unless prevented by sickness or
physical disability. Eight hours is con-
sidered days work, but one half OF the
day is compulsory. Any able-bodied
person who does not average a half-day's
work per week is compelled TO work out
the remainder of the week on Saturday
and Sunday under guard armed with a
vicious looking 'blacksnake" whin.
Wages are paid for this enforced labor
the same as if it had been performed VOL
UNFAIRLY.
They have no marriage laws. A man