New-York tribune., 1903-01-05
RUSSIAN WoRKMEN's CONDITION.
The Government There Looks After Them in
Many Ways-Insurance System.

In Russia the government looks after WorAnen
far better than is generally supposed FOR example
every factory employing over two hundred men mas
since 1906 been compelled by law TO MAINTAIN a
hospital and physician for sick workmen- IN
Poland proprietors of workshops are required 10
maintain funds based the output and augmented
by percentage withheld from the workingmen's
wages.
These conditions in Russia are the subject OF
report prepared by Louis SkarzynsFd and presented
at the sixth International Congress on Accidents TO
Labor and workmen's Insurance at Dusseldorf on
June 49, 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 COM
runaI ownership of land insures to every man bit
of land TO cultivate and place at the communal
table in his village when Ill luck overtakes him.
Then too the SO0l0.0o9 of agricultural population
vastly outnumber the 25O0oO0 dependent on factory
employment.
Initiation Of betterment movements in the cond1-
tions of factory employees has from the gov
ernment. Pensions and benefits for workmens fam
lilies were first introduced In the government WORKS
near st. Petersburg in 17s3. Later pension funds
for workmen and pensions for workmen's widows
forty years of age were established In many
government mines and shops In 1866 a law COM
PEELED each of factories of two hundred men
to open a hospital and maintain physician for his
employees. In 1856 this extended to require the
factories and shops with one thousand men to have
a hospital of ten beds, tnose with more than one
thousand men fifteen bed hospital and those with
less than one thousand men five bed hospital
The workers the mines and factories in Poland
early had the advantage societies providing help
in time of SICKNESS, medical ATTENDANCE and ald
when out of va k This was first introduced in 1875,
and has worked with marked success but mas not
been introduced in any otner province Ihe neees.
sary funds provided by 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 workmen not objected to having
part OF their wages withheld for this fund m but they
have desired that larger proportion De retained SO
that their benefits in time OF trouble may De
greater.
Throughout Russia mutual insurance companies
pay sick benefit to the workman injured by acct
dent and pension of per cent OF his wages TO
his widow 20 per cent to each orphan and 10 per
cent to his parents if he is killed If he earns less
than $50 year he receives an annuity equal TO ms
wa ges if he is disa bled by accident a woman In
jured in workshop does not forfeit her right TO 9er
pension by marriage law passed IN 1871 provides
that workInen receiving more than $50 who are IN
jured by accidents not the result OF their own heg
rence receive two-thfrds of their wages II tney
Cannot work and if they work at less pay receive
fwo-thirs of the difference between their present
and their former pay. Pensions ana SICK DeneIt
funds are guaranteed to all employees OF the o'ats