The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
WELFARE WORK THAT PAYS.
THINGS DONE BY LARGE CON-
Germs FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
Growth VI the Idea Of Senator Hanna
When the Civic Federation Was Formed
Varied Enterprises IN Behalf Of
Workers Employers BENEFITED. Too.

STOWtn VI the lueS OF senator hAhns
When the Civic Federation Was Formed
Varied Enterprises IN Behalf OF
Workers Employers Denented. Too.
When the late Senator Hanna and his as
sociates in the organization of the National
Civic Federation first planned the work Of
the federation they instituted five depart
rnents. There was department Of trade
agreements. department Of Cancellation
and arbitration, one OF industrial eco
nonlics another OF trade sections and still
another upon general organization. Sena-
tor Hannas associates considered that
this organization was Of the widest possible
srope. hut to the Senator something seemed
lacking
I'VE have provided for the purely theo-
rcLbal side Of tho work." he is said to have
remarked to one Of his colleagues. and
also for the purely business side. But the
federation ought to do something more than
preach economies and practise chickering's
over hours and wages. There is an i'm
portant middle ground, the human side.
that We have left out altogether.
The Senator's idea developed into the
organizat ion OF a department which should
concern itself with the physical comfort
Of employees. their opportunities for recrea-
ton. educational facilities. suitable SAM
tary homes and plans for saving and lend
ing money, insurance and pensions. It
was called the department of welfare work.
The department has been in existence
little more than year but is already con-
sidered one Of the most important and
beneficial Of the federation. Unlike the
other departments, it uses arguments upon
employers only
1T will pay you. Mr.. Employer" the
welfare agent says. to establish good
bathing. toilet aud dressing rooms IL
hraries, recreation rooms. lunch rooms
and hospitals in connection with your
factory. These things will cost you money,
but the money will not he a gift.
1t will lie an investment. You will reap
rich returns in resultant greater efficiency
Of your employees due to greater sound
ness Of body. mental improvement and
content of mind and greater desire on the
part of the employee to remain in your
employ
If the employer desires it, the agent will
produce statistics Slowing the direct finan-
cal gains from the establishment Of VOL
fare work. He will refer to great railroad
reduced the losses from accident by atten-
ton to the physical comfort and welfare OF
its employees.
The establishment Of rest houses, where
engineers, fremen aud trainmen may have
a good bed at no expense to themselves;
of clubrooms, where they may find card
tables billiard and pool rooms and other
diversions, and lunch rooms, where food
is furnished at cost, not only enable the en-
poyes to savs q larger portion of his in
come, the agent will say, but arc advan-
tageous to the company In that they In
sure the company physical fitness and
mental alertness In It's employees.
In hazardous employment. such a. min
ing, the welfare managers point out as their
model . large mining company Of the West.
This company has established at each Of
it's mines a hospital in which the injured
can have good surgical treatment free Of
charge. In connection with every hospital
The same institution conducts kindergar-
ten schools for the children OF employees
and has also instructors to teach advanced
subjects In one Of its schools 1t has class
of twenty Japanese Bohemians. Italians
pupils.
After the fashion of Bishop Potter, the
same company Is experimenting with model
saloons. AT one mine 1t has a saloon at
which only soft drin ks are sold; at another
1t di.penses beer and wines. but no liquors;
at still another the employees can find any
drink they like. Rules against intemper-
ance and no treating regulation are rigidly
enforced. but otherwise the employees
have entire freedom.
keep employees away from the cheap grog-
geries witch. infest every mining camp.
The compkc ,live business done by the three
places will demonstrate to the manage
ment which form OF saloon 1t Ia most ad-
visabe to conduct permanently.
The welfare agent will show that 1t pays
progressive employers to erect model
tenements or dwelling houses to rent to
employees at narrow margin OF profit
on the Investment. Those employers
who have tried this plan are enthusiastic
A company in a small village Of Masea-
chusetts which employs 5000 men, most
OF them unsAlled immigrant laborers.
has elaborated the system Of homes for
employees to remarkable extent; The
at rental Of $50 q month, much better
houses than the average In the Massachu-
setts village. and gives With every house
an acre OF ground: Prizes are not only.
offered for the tidiest housekeeping and
poa9 :n out s: :ss ~ tie
and vegetables.
Every year while the factory Is shut down
for summer overhauling there Is held an
agricultural fair under the management
OF tho company. All the exhibitors are
employees, and the varieties and tho ex-
cellence Of the vegetables and fruits, do
mestio ANIMALS and poultry, heedlework
and othet women's Fancy work attest
the alacrity with which even unskilled
laborers and their families grasp opportu-
mites for improving their standard OF living,
once the way Is shown them.
The poultry exhibit last year was pro-
nounced only second in point Of excellence
among all the agricultural fairs Of the
State. The display Of small vegetables
was unexceled.
Some departments Of welfare work
have been further developed In depart
ment stores than in any other business.
1t is related OF one OF the largest owners Of
stock in one of the largest depart ment
stores OF this city that he was led to take up
welfare work by the fact that girl In his
employ once starved to death.
Her condition was, of course. unknown
10 the management or to any OF her CO.
employees Taken i'll in her room, she was
unable to attract attention CT to secure help.
The occurrence served to inaugurate
a system in that store which has been