The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-27
THAT LABOR CORPORATION.

A few days ago the CALL made mention
Of plan proposed by ]. 6. Jeffries for an
incorporation Of workingmen, in which
shares shall be of the par value Of cent,
and the number of shares held by each
member TO be limited 10 one. The corpo-
ration is to have q labor bureau and quar-
tiers for the housing Of the members. At
that time we suggested that this was fine
opportunity for men Of capital and bust
ness experience to take the lead in the or
ganization Of such a corporation, TO the
end that it might be kept out Of the hands
of adventures and impracticables, and
that closer relations might be established
between laborers and employers.
The matter has attracted great deal Oh
attention, particularly from the laboring
element, who show a most commendable
desire 70 be on close and friendly terms
with large employers. Mr.. Jeffries has
made the following suggestion, which We
publish largely for the value Of the general
principle which it embodies:
The San Francisco and San Joaquin Val
ley Railroad will require some thousands
Of men for about year on the work OF
construction. As a rule, such work is
done by contract, the contractor paying
the men about 81 Is a day and charging
the company 81 80, retaining the difference
for his profit. Suppose, instead Of con-
tractor, the workingmen's corporation
should be formed and should furnish the
laborers at 81 25 a day. II would be able
to give as good bond as a contractor, and
would save the company the contractors
har inrtaad 0f
paying the corporation 81 . day in cash,
it paid IS cents in cash and 20 cents in
shares in the road the IS cents would be
about as beneficial to the laborers as would
have been the 81 Is from a contractor, for
the workingmen's corporation would keep
the men, while at work, for a very much
less cost than would be the case where a
contractor required them to board, lodge
and spend their money with him or his
agents.
The remaining 50 cents, paid in shares,
is TO 90 into the general fund of the work
ingmen's corporation, either as shares or as
money from the sale Of the shares, and
this fund is to be invested in lands or other
things, which would give the members of
the corporation an opportunity TO earn a
livelihood. Thus the railroad company
would be getting its work done for less
contract price, would have only three-ffths
Of this reduced amount to pay in cash and
would be secured by 9 sufficient bond,
while the workingmen Would be benefited
in several ways.
The application of this case to the Val
ley road is used merely as an illustration
Of the vast good which might accrue
to workingmen from the organization OF
such a corporation and the massed use
OF a part of the earnings of its members.
1t is hint not only TO the workingmen
but also to large employers Of labor Evil
IDENTIFY the latter would be benefiting them
selves by promoting such corporation
and employing its members. would be
strengthening a strong principle Of self
government among those who need it
most, would be encouraging the entire
labor element to enter upon ways of thrift
and industry, NO uld weaken the dissatis-
faction and lessen the poverty OF the labor
element, and would be aiding in the de-
velopment of the natural resource of the
State. 1t seems to be ma tier in which
both employers and employees should
manifest deep interest.