Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-02

tools and hardware and also for American
sewing machines. The chief machine sold
here is the Singer. This company has thor
oughly organized its foreign trade. It has
agencies in every country and in every
town, and it practically monopolizes its
field. There is no reason why other ma
chimes would not sell equally well if they
were properly pushed, for the French and
Germans cannot make such machines in
comparison with us.
| find Deering harvcsters and Nee rmicN
reapers largely used in the Rhone valley,
and think there should be a big opening
here for American plows and other farm
implements. Mr.. Antrist, one of the Deer
ing representatives at Paris, tells me that
the farm labUrers 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 CONT
nent, and as a result there is an increased
demand for agricultural tools. Every
manufacturer of such tools should study
the export trade. There is money in it.
The recent troubles between labor and
capital in the great coal strike leads me to
write Of the workingmen's organizations in
the Rhone valley. This city of Lyons has
numerous 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 aid
societies.. These are a sort of mutual bene-
fit or pension associations, intended to
give their MEMBERS money in their old age.
The members enter when young. and at 80
expect TO have enough money saved to be
- rAtfrA onl IsvA - 4L-s- ~
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 itself
aids in their support. There are now more
than 2,5OO,OO members. The societies pay
out $4,000 pensions every year, and have
assets amounting to about $50, 900, 600. The
societies are unuer the control of the In
terror department, and the officials believe
that they prevent strikes and divert the
members from communistic and socialistic
tendencies.
The associations were begun just after
the French revolution, and they are in a
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 in
vested in government bonds at 8 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.
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 2% 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 invest
ments, and especially so when the govern
ment or the municipalities are about to
issue loans. Such loans are made in bonds
almost every family in France is a bond
holder. Every man, woman and child who
is interested in such bonds or in the gov
eminent savings banks feels that he is a
part Of the government, and is consequently
a patriot. FRANK G. CARPENTER.