The Washington times., 1894-03-20
WORK FOR The UNEMPLOYED
Pleas for Governmental Interference
to Relieve the Present Distress.
HOW FRANCE RECUPERATED
After Two Disastrous Wars the Government
Built Up Prospsrity-The Unitsd States
Should Follow This Plan-Public Roads,
Vessels and Other National Enterprises.

land have had their "armies OF unemployed
and "bread riots" with accompanying blood
shed and starvation; that England is not yet
free from such scenes? America is not the
only country to-day that has an army OF the
unemployed. Germany, by its military sys-
tenn, manages very largely to reduce its num-
Der of unemployed, and thus escapes some of
the dangers that threaten those countries
where men must work or starve and where
work is not to be had. The rumors of march
in force or Washington of those now out OF
work has done much to turn the minds Of
political economists to some solution of the
great question of bringing back prosperity
and furnishing work for those who want en-
ployment.
At the close of one OF the long wars OF Louis
XIV France was almost prostrated. Her
trade was destroyed, her industries ruined,
her people paupers, her fields wasted and
barren. The people were without work, and
there appeared to be none to give them em-
ployment. Starvation was found in every
section. Her treasury was bankrupt; yet
within a few years all was changed. Pros
perity was found everywhere. and in place OF
starvation the people had plenty, and wealth
Of the king. Colbert, the financial minister
of France, had brought about all this mighty
change.
Under his care and through the support of
the government manufactures sprung up
everywhere The fine cloths of Holland were
excelled in France; Flanders tapestries were
also compelled to yield the palm to those OF
Beauvais and Venice; Venice also gave up
her workmen to the glass manufactures of
st. Gobain and Tourlavie: the manufacture
of lace was introduced, and soon nearly 100.-
900 women and children were employed in
that industry alone; the manufacture OF soap,
tin. arms and silk gave employment to multi
tudes. but still there were thousands who
were willing to work but who could not find
employment in the new industries that had
been helped into existence by the govern
ment. and those thousands had to be fed.
Colbert took up the cry of good roads, and
everywhere throughout France the govern
ment assumed the task Of improving the
highways. Canals were built, public build
ings erected. The outlay was tremendous,
but rejuvenated France soon again filed the
Golfers of the government. Again, when
France emerged from its late great struggle
with Germany, the condition OF her people
was almost equal to what it had been in the
days of Louis XIV. The statesmen of the
new republic followed, 10 a very considerable
extent. the policy of Colbert.
To some the present condition of affairs in
the United States is ineXplicable. Why with
her vast domain her bounIless resources. her
ineXhaustible energy a million or more of
those anxious to work should be unable TO
find employment is and will remain u mys-
terry to many. Explanations may be offered,
but they hardly prove satisfactory. The con-
dition is here. whatever may be the theory.
And when people are starving it is not the
fine to stop and talk about the cause which
have led to the starvation. To tell man
whose family is out of bread and he out of
work that overproduction has been the cause
of his suffering is worse than Offering him
stone when he has asked for bread. When
the great dam above Johnstown broke and
carried destruction and death to the valley the
people did not stop TO discuss the causes
which led to the breaking of the dam, but
poured in their contributions to relieve the
distress brought about by the disaster. The
time has passed, or has not yet come, to dis
cuss why the factories have shut down and
the mines closed.
There has been cry all over the country
for economy i'll administering the affairs of
the government, and very decided hostility
has been shown against increasing the public
debt. Under Louis NV Colbert advised
economy in the matter of the expenditures of
the sovereign and of the court. and advocated
the most liberal expenditures where the peo-
pie would be the Deneflciaries. and thereby
built up and renewed the prosperity Of France.
1t is hard to enunerate all who will be ben
Gifted by giving work directly to compara-
lively few. The government is now paying
out large sums in Washington for rent of
property used by the government. 1t is cal
culated that within the last thirty years the
government has paid out enough in rents to
have erected all the buildings needed by IT,
and vet the payment Of rentals goes on each
month. When work on a government build
ing is begun it is permitted 10 drag along
year after year. The new post-office build
ing now being erected in this city it is ex-
pecfed will require ten years to complete. II
such building were constructed by private
enterprise. it would be completed in one year.
Government buildings always move slowly.
The matter of a new Government Printing
Office has been discussed for years by people
and Congress. The necessity of it is apparent
to all. No one denies that. All admit it
must be built sooner or later. and all admit it
ought to he done at once; yet nothing is done.
Those employed in the building now used for
that purpose go tremblingly into it each
morning and leave it each night with thank
full hearts. This is well known. Delay is the
watchword. while thousands of mechanics
want work.
Government buildings are nes1ed in many
of the larger cities of the ctrul.ry. During
the first term of Mr.. Cleveland several hun
dred thousand dollars were appropriated to
purchase the ground upon which to erect an
addition to the post office at indianapolis.
The present building was erected when In
dianapolis contained less that 10000 people
and the free delivery system was unknown.
The additional ground was purchased. but
nothing has been done about erecting the ad-
ditional buildings. Some years ago money
was appropriated for the purchase of site
for a new mint at Philadelphia. The site has