The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-20

cheap and good food. The boarding ex-
penses are not uniform, and depend largely
There are workmen who earn $50 a month,
which permits them TO indulge in more
dainty food: but even then their board
does not cost them more than $3.50 to A
a month each. In many factories there
are provision shops kept by societies formed
OF the workmen themselves. In such shops
at market price, but also a dividend of
from 3 to s per cent; Unfortunately, there
are very few such shops.
The Russian workman is usually well
lodged. In nearly. all large factories there
are buildings specially constructed for him.
Here he gets his lodging. fuel and ligh:,
cording to the circumstances The first
type of these buildings resembles barracks
In enormous buildings, many stories high,
large, light, well-ventilated halls contain
hammocks or bedsteads and pillows filled
and widows sleep in separate halls. There
is a general kitchen and dining room in the
building. The second type of building con-
families Of from three to five members. The
workmen eat in their own rooms; there is a
Kitchen In each story; c2nta,ning an enoro
stories, and has many sections. A great
kettle, for boiling. water for tea and so
nish and light their own rooms. The factory
only lights the staircase, corridors and
kitchens and heats the house.
The third type of house, the one most In
favor with the workmen, but. unfortunately
not much DEVELOPED in RuSSie, consists of
separate small wooden or stone hous s, con-
with separate StaircaSes. Each house has a
small yard, necessary outbulldings, a gar
lodgings vary greatly. Those in buildings OF
the first type are much cheaper. In general
lodging and fuel cost a workman from rs
cents TO $1.50 a month, or from s. to SIS q
year.
GOOD ACCOMMODATIONS.
Above everything the Russian workman
prizes a lodging provided by his master.
Such lodgings are not only cheaper, but
their price does not ~fiuctuate, as is the case
with private lodgings, and he does not
have to buy wood, a consideration of great
Importance in a country where the winter
is so long and cold. Private lodgings are
mostly in a very bad sanitary condition.
Consequently, of two factories, one of
which has lodgings for the men and the
other has none, the workmen will gener-
ally prefer to serve in the former. Russian
manufacturers know this, and try to pro-
ing good workmen.
Moreover, every large factory situated
out of town has a hospital. as required by
the law; a bath, a school, a library with
reading room, and some very we'll organ
lied factories have, besides, almshouses for
aged workmen and for babies, infant
schools and other charitable institutions.
The most general manner of payment is
by the piece, as stated In the contract, the
1iAAAO tAC VI IL WOIh Gill
fixed by the workman, in agreement with
the regulations of the factory, or he is
paid for time WORK, according to his abil-
ity. In a few factories. such as machine
shops. wages are paid TO a whole artel
or guild, after a certain amount Of work
is completed. Formerly the workmen al
ways received daily or monthly wages, but
that method is now practiced where the
payment by the piece cannot be adopted.
treatment on the part Of the manufacture
ers. His wages We're paid at indefinite in
tervals. and he had to wait months some
times for them, and had to borrow money
at high interest to live upon meanwhile,
or fall In debt. Part of his wages was also
often withheld, on various pretexts. or
wages were arbitrarily lowered before the
expiration of contract time, by diminish
ing the hours of labor and the pay in pro-
portion, and so forth.
All such arbitrary methods and mis-
usages were stopped by a special law in
1856. entitled The mutual relation of the
inspection of different works and manu-
factories" 1t is a humane law, which
shows the solicitude of the government for
the welfare of the working classes. 1t de-
fines clearly and precisely the mutual re-
lations between employers and workmen,
and appoints special boards of control to
see that these relations are fulfilled.
LAWS IN THEIR FAVOR.
Among the provisions of the law is one
which compels the employer to give his
workman a written contract. with every
particular clearly set forth. term of serv-
ice. amount of wages. times and mode Of
payment, price of lodging, amounts and
causes Of fines which may be imposed, and
all other details of the contract. The book,
of a prescribed pattern, in which these
points must be inscribed contains also ex-
tracts OF the law, and regulations concern
ing the rights, duties and responsibilities
of the workman, Which. by law, must be
composed by the administration of the
factory and approved by the local in
spector. This book, which the workman
himself must keep, contains, among other
things, a separate description for adult
workmen and children OF the hours when
the work is TO begin and finish; how often
and how long the men may interrupt their
work TO rest. lunch and dine: the hour for