Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01

implements. Mr. Antrist, one of the Deer
ing representatives at Paris, tells me that
the farm laborers are gradually going to
the cities. They are working in the fac
tories, and the result is that machinery
must take their place. This is so not only
in France, but in all parts of the conti-
nent, and as result there Is an increased
demand for agricultural tools Every man
ufacturer of such tools should study the ex-
port trade. There is money in it.
How the French Workmen Combine.
The recent trouble between labor and capt.
tai in the great coal strike leads me to write
Of the workingmen's organizations in the
Rhone valley. This city Of Lyons has nu-
merous trades unions. Every now and then
there is a strike. but the men still work
long hours and for small pay. They have.
however some very good institutions, and
among them are the workmen's aid socie-
ties. These are a sort Of mutual benefit or
pension associations. intended to give their
members money In their old age. Fhe
members enter when young. and at fifty
five expect to have enough money saved to
be able to retire and live on their pensions.
The amount of pension is in proportion to
the length and amount of saving, and the
members range all the way from three
years to sixty.
Hundreds of school children belong to
such associations, and the government 1t
self aids in their support. There are now
more than 2 10000 members. The Socfe-
ties pay out GO, 900 pensions every year. and
have assets amounting to about 10000, 600
The societies are under the control of the
interior department, and the officials be-
Iieve that they prevent strikes and divert
the members from communistic and social
istio tendencies.
These associations were begun just after
the French revolution, and they are In
thriving condition today. They can be Or
ganized by any class Of workmen or en-
ployes. Some of them are composed of
clerks some of salesgirls and many Of fac
tory hands. The members are required to
pay monthly dues and the money is invest
ed In government bonds at 3 per cent. This
Is added to by the government, so that the
funds bring in at least AZ per cent. which
interest goes on at a compound rate and
accumulates the vast amounts which are
given out for old-age pensions
There are also accident societies and So
eietdes organized by the different railroad
companies and other large corporations for
their employees. It Is wonderful how the
money grows out of these small savings.
Two cents day laid aside for sixteen years
gives an income of about $3.50 month
from that time on. and more produces
money in the same proportion.
The government is so organized that such
societies can be formed In any community.
Deposits can be made wherever there Is a
post office. The smallest deposit Is franc
or twenty cents, but postage stamps are
accepted and many poor people buy savings
stamps and paste away a cent at time
until they make up the deposit for q
month
French Postal Savings Banks.
The postal savings banks of France have
deposits amounting to more than half a
| billion dollars, and their receipts, including
the interest amount to more than $50, OO0,-
600 a year. There are now about three and
a half million postal savings bank deposit
ors and these include all classes Of people
and persons of all ages. There are almost
as many women as men among the de-
posters, and also 100000 French children.
| Many of the depositors are farm hands
and tens of thousands of them are en-
| ployes in the mills and factories
About 35 600 school children have such
accounts and they are encouraged by the
| teachers to open them. In every common
| school a child can deposit with the teacher
amounts of one cent and upward, and the
! agent of the postal savings banks comes
around once a month and collects the saw
| ings When the child makes its first de-
| post 1t gets bank book, and when Its de-
posts have reached a franc or 20 cents It
! Is supplied with bigger one.
Parents often lay aside money in these
| banks for their children, so that they can
| have a capital with which to begin Life
when they reach manhood or womanhood
| Mothers lay aside money for their daugh-
| ters' doweries, and girls thus save for their
| wedding trousseaus.
| The most Of such savings is invested by
| the government in bonds and mortgages.
| The government pays an interest of 2A per
| cent on the deposits. but no account Is al
! lowed to run over $500, after which the de-
| positor can, If he wishes, draw out the
money and start again. The government
| officials give depositors advice as to In
| yestments, and especially so when the gov
/ eminent or the municipalities are about to
1 issue loans. Such loans are made in bonds
| of low denomination and the result is that
| almost every family in France Is bond
| holder Every man, woman and child who
| is interested in such bonds or in the govern
| ment savings banks feels that he is a part
| of the government and Is consequently a
patriot FRANK u. CARPENTERS.