The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-09-22
LONDON'S UNEMPLOYED.
Bill Providing for Relief by Work Ne
fore Parliament.

fore Parliament.
The past winter has been a notable
one in England as far as labor con-
ditions are concerned, says the Bos-
ton Transcript. The returns issued
each month by the London local gov
eminent board show that the number
Of persons in receipt of relief from
the State is higher than in any pre-
ceding year since 1874. So acute has
the situation become that the gov
eminent has introduced in Parliament
a measure designed to afford relief.
known as the unemployed workmen"
bill. Some labor leaders have been
urging workingmen to march on Lon
don in body, and several Populations
have acted on the suggestion. One
deputation which arrived in London
was refused admission to the WIS.,
itors' gallery Of the House Of Com
mons and none Of them have been re-
ceived, yet the government fathers
this workingmen's bill, recognizing the
Importance Of the problem.
The unemployed workmen bill pro-
vides for public relief by employment,
compulsory in London, optionally in
the rest Of the country" according to
the New York World. ut is based on
the principle that an applicant hon
esty DESTROYS Of obtaining work, but
temporarily unable to do so from ex-
ceptional causes over which he has
no CONTROL should have a right to re-
ceive employment relief. The ex-
penses are to be met by special tax,
supplemented by contributions. The
unemployed taxes cannot be used to
provide temporary work except on
farm colonies, thus drawing surplus
labor away from congested cities and
back to the land This new authority
will also keep labor registers, assist
applicants by emigration and removal
and share the cost Of employment by
other bodies. On the other hand, as
safeguards. wages are to be less than
the normal earnings of the unskilled
laborer, and no one shall be assisted
more than two years in succession"
The unemployed bill' will go q
long way toward revolutionizing the
administration Of the poor law, says
q. Douglas Shields in the World To-
day. 1T will include the appointment
of minister Of industry, whose bust
ness it will be to have in readiness,
schemes Of national character to sup
ply work for those in need Of it. In
thus taking upon itself the responsible
ity for the supply of labor. the govern
ment Is only following the lead that
has been given by the workers them
selves. If there is one feature Of the
problem that is more striking than an
other, it is the decrease in the reluc-
lance of self-respecting men and wom-
en- to seek the aid Of the State in times
of distress. In Bradford 1000 men
besieged the workhouse and demanded
help, telling the guardians Of the poor
law that~their methods Of giving relief
were inhuman, and protesting against
the law which DISTINGUISHES men who
have received State support within
twelve months previous. Similar Incl
dents have occurred elsewhere. In
thus demanding work and, failing it,
money at the hands of the authorities,
the people are we'll within their legal
rights. In 1901 an act of Parliament
made it incumbent upon the authori-
ties Of every village and town to pro-
vide work for the unemployed and as
sistance for those who could not work.
Penalties were inflicted in cases of
neglect to perform these duties. They
were given powers to acquire land be-
longing or adjacent to the village and
to let it in allOtments to those able for
agricultural work. This act has never
been repealed"