Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-05-21
ASKED AND ANSWERED.
John Johnson's Questions and Our
Replies.
SECOND SERIES.

louS features of the Il & & movement
still continues. We refer such of our
readers as wish information upon
specific points to the set of replies
furnished in our first number and
dealing with questions concerning
the exact location of our first colony
at Equality, the way to reach the
colony, the mode of paying for mem
bership fees, who have a right to adj
mission on one fee what constitutes
ones family, religious matters in our
community, our climate, the mode of
using Brotherhood scrip. and other
topics. Some further questions and
answers follow:
13. Is not the B C G scheme to
salary set of officers?
Ans. There are no salaried Off
Gals in the B G. G save the National
Organizer, and he receives the incon-
siderable sum of twenty-five dollars a
month and five dollars in credit on a
colony membership fee. The state
organizers receive commissions for
their labors in furthering the organi-
cation of the Brotherhood: a survey
of our account books shows that the
amount thus paid in commissions is
exceedingly small. The B C c. is not
a source of individual aggrandizc-
ment to any of our members. and
there is not the slightest tinge or
faint of individu alism in it anywhere
| II. What wages do your colony
members receive?
Ans. The B c G and the colony do
not pay wages, as such, but all the
members receive two allowances, one
for communal maintenance and the
other for individual use. The allow
ance for maintenance includes the
right to food. lodging, fire and fuel
and lighting, laundry, repairing of all
kinds done in the colonies, med
ical attendance, and other things
of a like necessary and com
munal nature: the other allowance is
based on division of the proceeds of
the surplus product, present or pros
pective: at present when surplus has
not yet Gomez the amount of this al
lowance per week is fifty fractions of
B c G scrip equivalent in purchasing
power to fifty cents in legal tender)
for all adults lover 49, of either sex,
thirty-five for persons under Is and
over II, ten for children between the
ages of 6 and -, and five fractions
for all children below six years. Each
adult member of the colony is taxed
fifty hours per week of his time in la
Dor for colony use and benefit, that
is, each member over eighteen is ex-
pected to work for the colony in CO.
operation with the other adult mem
bers fifty hours per week. All mem
bers working out any portion of their
fee I'VE are not admitting members
now on that basis are allowed for
every hour for overtime work credit
of twenty-five fractions per hour on
the books of the association for the
purpose of paying up in full the bal
ance due on fee,
10. Who decides upon the size or
design of houses about to be built?
How can a member get larger house
or one of different design from the
general run, if he so wishes?
Ans. This matter lies with the gen
eral assembly of the colony. The
members vote on any requisition for
the building of private dwelling
house, and each req uest of this kind
Is considered upon its own merits, as
there can be no general rule, other
than a regard for the strictest econo-
my and a desire to avoid as far as
may be all individual distinction in
matters of public concern or of Il
communal nature. OF course the size
of ones family, and other points of 4
like character, naturally enter into
the settlement of these questions.
Is. What is the rate on freight to
Belfast?
Ans. While we can always ascer-
tain rates by applying specifically to
the agent at Belfast, our nearest
railroad station, still we urge our
members to make inquiries of their
own local agents, who will be able to
, give them more detailed and useful
information than we could possibly
supply from this end of the line. The
same suggestion holds good with re-
#, spect to passenger rates, and routes
and schedules.
VI