The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-03-10
Che MopRmao0 @f 8eppmamv>
HIS HOURS.


! healthy conditions in the factories.
Ihey must have good light, sufficient
ar ventilation and protection from
dangerous machinery. ..-.,
Definite Rules to Work On.
t. What probably conduces mast to
tranquility among the ,laborinE classes
In Germany is the law that requires
rules defining the conditions of work.
Before the rules can be enforced they
must be submitted by the employer to
MS men, who are authorized to file
written objections. The rules. with
the objections are laid before the fac
tory inspector, who Is authorized to
change them If they ara contrary to
the law and governmental regulations,
and to adopt any objections which he
may deem legal and proper. The fac
tory. inspector thus possesses consider
able power. The rules when approved
are posted in every department and
: they bind the employer and employe.
They omit the scale Of wages, but
Prescribed when, and in that manner
me- tne wages shall be paid: they set
tervals for meals. They state the
length of notes which must be given
to the men discharged by the firm, and
expressly name the offenses that ad-
nit OF instant dismissal. They specify
the punishments which may be fnfict-
ed. These punishments include fines,
which are usually disbursed by the
firm for the benefit Of the men.
.,.. Scale Of Germah wages.
Unquestionably Germany's steady
growth as an industrial nation Is due
to her comparative freedom from
strikes. To safeguard their interests
the workmen have established bureaus
which receive and press claims against
employers. Almost 100000 persons con-
suited these bureaus last year. The
largest number Of complaints was due
to disputes about accidents. workmen
holding that they were entitled to
pensions on account of injuries. De-
mands for insurance on account of
sickness were responsible for thous-
ands of complaints; differences ON ac-
count of wages, including retention Of
wages, differences relating to the char
acter of the work and dismissal with
out notice also caused many to seek
the Intervention of the bureaus. 40
q rule, these bureaus form vast ma
chinery antagonistic to capital, and
considerable friction rsults.
The principal cause of disputes was
the universal complaint Of inadequate
remuneration. There were more de-
mands for an increase in wages in
1905 than were made in the previous
two years. Second in Importance to
disputes regarding wages were those
relating to hours of work. The men
are agitating for an eight-hour day.
They have been rather successful for
in 1905 ~ per cent of the disputes were
settled IN favor Of the work people,
81 per cent were compromised and 46
per cent were In favor of the en-
ployers.
The German workman Is not so quick
as the American, but he ID more care
full. With conditions improving, his
hours Of work are becoming shorter
and his wages are. slowly increasing.
The German manufacturers say: THE
condition of the German worker is
much more satisfactory than that Of
the small trader, who, oppressed by
heavy taxes and duties, and threatened
by the competition of the large insti-
tutions, has a very hard: experience in
the struggle for life. ,,.~ ~ s.-,-.5c:7.-. :
The workman feels, however, that
he owes his. employer little. The en-
ployer enjoys the great advantage of
having the finest skilled labor.