Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-08

ported more cheaply than they could be
made. Each colony has had its own tariff
laws. and it has been impossible to regulate
matters SO that the goods made in one
colony might be sold a the same price
throughout Australia. Now that we have
federation. we intend to wall Australia
about with such a protective tariff as will
make il self-supporting. That is what
You Americans have done and what we pro-
pose to do"
Australians Government Clerks.
How about your government work, Mr..
Labor Commissioner" / asked.
THAT is all on the 4S-hour per week ba-
sis was the reply. The wages are prac-
tically fixed by the unions and the time by
the government. Every one knows what
the wages are to be and contractors make
their bids accordingly. We can object if
the labor is poor and demand that better
men be employed, but the wages and time
are fixed.
as there not a large force in the govern
ment employ" | asked.
Yes, replied Minister Perry, ''but L
doubt whether on the whole we have many
more government clerks than You have.
We have the railroads, the telephones and
the street cars un0er the government. but
YOU must remember that you have enor-
nous number of employees in America.
How many have you here in New South
NaleS?" | asked.
We have $1,000 on our salary list" said
Mr.. Perry. land some others on piece
work.
And what is your popuiation?"
"A bout l,:,56000" was the reply.
Well" said |. "Iet US figure it. Divide
your l,}3G,eW by $1,000 and you will find
that at least one man in. every forty is a
government employe If we had as many
employees in the United States, with our
population of SnOO0,00O, we would have .
100000 government officials, which, at the
low average of $500 per year would cost us
at least $1,000,000,Uu0 year"
L don't know. but l should not be sur
prised to hear that a careful counting of all
your officials. including government clerks.
school teachers. policemen. &c, would al
most foot up that many"
Does the Eight-Hour Law Pay.
DO you really think the eight-hour law
pays, Mr.. Perry l asked.
What do you mean?'
Il mean, can you run the country on an
eight-hour basis? At present you have
much undeveloped land, and the chances
for money making are many. When Aus
tralia becomes settled and the profits de-
crease, can YOU run your business here on
eight hours. when Europe has ten twelve,
and all Asia mOre?'
Il don't know replied Mr.. Perry but
believe such things regulate themselves.
You work short hours in the United States
and still you are beginning to manufacture
hours give your men time to think and
hence the Yankee inventions for which you
are 50 famous. A fresh man will do twice
much tired man, and i believe we
get better work by shorter hours. After
man works ten hours he comes home dog
tired and throws himself on the lounge or
the floor, prepared to be diSagreeabe. He
has no time to get acquainted with his fam
lily to think OF anything outside of his
routine work. Our laborers are, l believe
the happiest of the world. Most of them
own their own homes. They live well, but
they save money
But do not the short hours increase
loafing and drunkenness?"
Il don't think so, was the reply. Those
who drink will drink anyhow. Those who
are Industrious find time to do work about
their homes, and a great many spend their
leisure in going about with their families
The men feel better. they respect them
selves more and are far better citizens
Australians Unemployed.
But still you have many unemployed?"
Yes, but not so many now as some years
ago, One department of my bureau is de-
voted to the unemployed. The first year
that this branch was established we found
places for 5000 laborers in the second for
10000 and in the fourth for 10000. The
chief duty of the bureau was to get the
men to the places where the work was We
gave a great many railroad and steamship
passes. allowing the men to take care of
places of work. When the times were
hard we organized relief works in which a
part of the wages were paid in rations
This was along after the panic of 1891 and
1sg2. We had great many bank failures
There was a general distress throughout
Australia, and thousands were thrown out
of work. At present the times are good
although there are always more or less