The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-31
RUSSIAN WORKMEN.



Them i'm Many Ways.
New York Tribune.
In Russia the government looks after
workmen far better than is generally sup
posed. For example. every factory en-
ploying over 200 men has, since 1906, been
compelled by law to maintain a hospital
and physician for sick workmen. In Po-
land proprietors of workshops are required
to maintain funds based on the output and
augmented by percentage withheld from
the workingmen's wages.
These conditions in Russia are the sub
Ject of report prepared by Louis Skarzyn-
ski and presented at the sixth 1nterna-
uonal Congress of Accidents TO Labor and
Workmen's Insurance at Dusseldorf on
June 10. 1902. The report has been
summarized for the American Institute of
Social Service by the director, William H.
Tolman.
Conditions in Russia differ greatly from
those in this country and in the rest of
Europe. The communal ownership of lane
insures to every man bit of land to culti-
vate end place at the communal table in
his village when i'll luck overtakes him.
Then, too, the S0,000.000 of agricultural popu-
lation vastly outnumber the 100000 de-
Initiation of bet erment movements in
the conditions of factory employees has come
from the government. Pensions and bene-
fits for workmens families were first in
troduced in the government works near ST.
Petersburg in 1873. Later pension funds for
workmen and pensions for workmen's
widows over forty years of age were estab-
llshed In many government mines and
shops. In 1906 a law compelled each owner
of factories of 200 men to open a hospital
anc maintain a physician for his employees.
In 800 TINS was extended to require the
factories and shops with 1000 men to have
a hospital of ten beds, those with more
than 1000 men fifteen-bed hospital and
those with less than 1000 men a five-bed
hospital.
The workers in the mines and factories
in Poland early had the advantage of So
cities providing help in time of sickness:
medical attendance and aid when out of
work. This was first introduced in 1908,
and has worked with marked success, but
has not been introduced in any other
province The necessary funds are pro-
vided by 2 per cent. Of the output of the
factory, by fines and other returns and
by small percentage of the workmen S
wages. Not only have the Polish work.
wages withheld for this fund. but they
have desired that a larger proportion be
retained, so that their benefits in time OF
trouble may be greater
Throughout Russia mutual insurance
companies pay sick benefits to- the work
men injured by accident. and a pension of
3 per cent. OF his wages to his widow, e
per cent. to each orphan and Is per cent
TO his parents il he is killed. If he earns
less than $3.50 year he receives an annuity
equal to his wages II he Is disabled by acct.
dent woman injured in d workshop
does not forfeit her right to her pension by
marriage law passed in 1901 provides
that workmen receiving more than $50 who
are injured by accidents not the result OF
their own negligence receive two-thirds OF
their wages If they cannot work. and II
they work at less pay receive two-thirds OF
the difference between their present and
their former pay. Pensions and sick bene.
| fit funds are guaranteed to all employees
| of the State railway.