The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-14
TO AID LABOR.
The Proposition of d Local
Economist.
LABOR AND CAPITAL TO JOIN.
Hopes to Solve the Problem of
the Unemployed.
LABOR AND CAPITAL TO JOIN.
BUILDING HOUSES FOR HOMES.
To Be Sold at Auction When Finished
and the Proceeds Equitably
Divided.

4 local economist has set his wits to
work to make more labor for the unem-
ployed His plan, as sci forth yesterday
TO a CALL reporter. is as follows:
"The idea has been briefly outlined and
submitted 10 several prominent represent
alive citizens, Who regard it as feasible
The proposition is 20 combine capital and
labor in the building of houses suitable for
homes, which are TO be sold when finished
at auction or otherwise to the best advan-
tage and the proceeds equitably divided, so
that those interested will each get their
fair pro rata of the full value of the prod
uct
Vacant lots and building materials of
all kinds aid not money are what is re-
garded as capital in this connection, and
The combining of these in the production
of substantial realty is what is meant by
the proposition to combine la Dor and pi-
tai without money. To this end several
owners Of vacant lots along the streetear
lines and architects, mechanics ana mill
owners and others interested in the build
ing trades are being called upon, and a
generat disposition is manifested to CO.
operate in this way when the plan and
means is fully explained and Ii Is seen 10
be plain straightforward practical bust
ness proposition.
1T is proposed to apply for charter as
an association or corporation, and 10 IN,
wife all disposed to cooperate TO form
a nucleus Of a movement to this end
TO send in their names and address and to
name the paper they take, and when this
Is done "a article Will be pu bllshed in their
paper or a circular will be printed con-
tanning a numbered list of the names re-
ceived, together with new form Of ballot
ff,Il inns hiat
those using it VIII nominate and elect n
board of nine directors, who will elect
their officers and manager, and cOEsti-
tute the first group of ten that will take a
general interest in the movement. advise
as to the best course to pursue, audit the
accounts, see that the money is eQuitaDiy
disbursed aud the affairs conducted in a
buSinesslike manner generally. After TINS
is done those in each of the building trades
will organize themselves into groups of ten
each, who will select their res pective assO-
ciates and manage their own affairs. This
is all done By means OF peculiar system
Of numbering and form OF ballot devised
fer this purpose, which will be fully ex-
planned hereafter in the newspapers or
circulars for this purpose or both.
suffice for the present to say that the
organizing consists in the system of num-
bering. Each group Of ten has ten consecu-
tive numbers. They select their own asSO-
ctates by tie secret ballot. but are in every
sense entirely independent Of each other.
This IS done merely TO facilitate the voting
and reporting, which can be done by mail
or the newspaper. The secrecy and safety
Of the ballot and absolute correctness OF
the report is secured and the general syS-
tFmattc organization and grouping of all in
terested are obtained 10 this way without
expense or loss of time.
This is az important feature of the plan
devised and is designed to promote free
\ atnra cr1
through just and equitable distribution
of the product Of those who combine and
cooperate in this way to secure the most
prOfita bic acknowledgment and TO each the
whole product of his labor.
by this means the relative values OF all
services, labor. lands. lumber and other
materials that contribute to and result in
the creation of substantial realty, or other
product, are determined by those liter
ested.
1T is believed that the plan will be
found equally applicable to all industries
and classes, but for the present tests OF its
practical working will be limited to The
building trades.
The first things needed are:
"tlrst-The names Of all those in the
building trades who are in need of mplOy-
ment and who desire to cooperate in this
way.
''Second-The names Of those who have
built, and to have the two combined One
house and lUO sold at auction, or other
wise, for cash.
"Third-The names of all millmen and
others who have lumber and other build
ing materials they desire to have convert
ed into property III this way and on this
basis.
1T Is fair to assume that the values OF
the land and materials will be greater
when combined than separately. The
difference between the sum Of their separ-
ate values and their value when ON bined
is the amount that belongs to labor. ana II
remains for those interested TO say
whether they will agree that the price OF
the land and materials selected by them
shall be- paid ia full out of the proceeds OF
:. the sale or ii they shall regard all the
three faetors-the land value, the lum per.
etc, a1d the combining of them as equally
the result OF labor and share in equal per-
centage in gains or loss on expected re-
turns. To provide for this is the object oil
organizing and Incorporating ana voting,
etc.. so as to be able TO Issue certificates OF
Interest ID the property being produced
and to an agreed upon percentage of thai
interest as the work progressed, SO as &c
allow Il margin for this.
These certificates could be OF the face
value of 81 per share. and as due bills OF
warrants used temporarily as a local su b.
stitute for currency 10 be redeemed, can
caleu anu destroyer on OlSlTiDuIlon OF the
proceeds in Way similar 10 that pursued
in the case of the building Of the market
house in ST. Peters lie Port, the capital Of
the island of Guernsey. In this case it is
well known that a substantial realty
worth $780, 900 was created in this way
without money or bonds. and without cost
ing The people a cent in taxes or interest.
Labor was profitably employed in this way
that would have otherwise have been idle,
and land and materials used that would
otherwise hayesremained unused. In this
way wealth was created, trade stimulated
and all were benefited"