New-York tribune., 1906-07-14

as late as February G. 1906, Count Posa-
aows<v-Wehner, the German Minister OF the In
..-,or speaking .n the Reichstag, said: IF Ger
nary has sust experienced vast industrial ex-
,snsion equailed by no other country in the
rro-ld during the same time II IS chiefly due to
s,,e efficiency og its workers. But this efficiency
ra;,ss Inevitably have suffered had we not Sc
cured 20 our working classes. by the social 1egs-
rstson Of recent years, a toierable standard Of
l,se and had not, so far was possible, guar
anteed their physical health
rss On this text that Mr. Dawson has written
sss volume in which he now sets forth the
-s.ure OF this social legislation. He refrains
rom discussing industrial conditions in their
narrower and more personal aspects, confning
sgrsele 20 a consideration OF the enlightened
,eforus'' which have been adopted for the
heneht OF the German workman by municipality
ana private philanthropy working singly or to-
sefher. Written by an Englishman and from
shs British point OF view, the author believes
thsf such q survey this of another country's
methods and measures of social reform can
hardly fan 20 throw light upon questions urgent
among his cOuntrymen; and although industrial
conditions in America are in certain respects
different from those In Great Britain, 1t is doubt
less true that we. too. may learn something from
Csermany's example. ''even though the example
nay at times be deterrent rather than encour-
agng" II some of the provisions made for the
heneht Of the German workman partake Of the
nature OF the paternalism characteristic OF that
countFy's government, there IS, nevertheless, a
distinct movement In America in the direction
Of more intimate supervision Of the welfare
of the people by municipalities. common
gealths and the national government The people
os the United States win probably not lag far
behind imperial Germany in looking after the
general and individual interests OF its working
classes. and we may, at least, borrow something
from the Ghoroughness and system which are so
Characteristic OF the German mind when we
come 10 apply whatever we may deem appro-
pirate Of their methods to local conditions.
The social legislation which Mr. Dawson con-
siders divides itself naturally Calthough he does
not himself so divide sD into four classes, what
may be called welfare charity correction"
and sanitation" Under the head Of welfare
the author considers the various means adopted
70 assist the wOrkingman in his efforts 20 gain
employment, and to safeguard him against IT'S
loss, by means OF labor registries or employment
agencies, insurance against idleness, sickness,
accident. death and old age, municipal house
bureaus. municipal pawnshOps. the very inter
esting industrial courts, the workmen's secreta-
rates and the municipal information bureaus.
The labor bureaus OF Germany, both public and
erable measure OF success. and are readily used
By the workpeopIe though perhaps less willingly
by the employers OF labor. In the public regis
tries no fee is charged, and the private ones
charge but a trihe. They supplement the bureaus
conducted by the various trade unions and con-
siderable progress is being made in the effort 10
establish coordination between the bureaus IN
different localities in the direction OF a tabor
clearing house. Especially are efforts being
made to prevent the flow Of labor from the farms
70 the towns. The Munich bureau. for instance.
rigidy refuses employment 70 agricultural Ia
borers who are only given an opportunity TO
go back to the land. and if they decline so to do
the bureau has no more TO say to them
The various forms OF industrial insurance are
quite complicated in their details, but appear
70 work out reasonably and satisfactorily in
their results. Insurance against idleness IS, In
effect an offshOot OF the labor bureau. Only
part OF the funds. however. are derived from
the contributions OF the wOrknen, the rest being
made up by patrons" honorary members"
contributions from societies. employers and
Others together with liberal subventions from
the municipalities. II an insured worker 'loses
his Job" he is put the list OF the labor regis
Try in a sort OF preferred class. and when work
Is offered which is within his scope he must take
s. or forfeit his benefit. There has apparently
not been a very great rush OF workmen to avail
themselves Of this form OF Insurance. which. in
its present development. only touches the fringe
Of the unemployed problem. AT its best. the in
sttution Is only palliative, although. as the
author states, lin fairness IL should be added
that this is all that its promoters claim" He
says further that 1.-THE insured work people
would appear to be satisfied with the fund.-" and
vel they may be, since in it's operation IL par
la oP he V1af1l II q DanetactlOn.
Such movement would hardly be possible in
America unless it could be made entirely self
supporting
The direct solution OF the housing problem
IS one which would seem hardly 10 fall within
the scope Of American municipalities however
much It may well be influenced by building ana
board Of health regulations; but in Germany
Il comes more naturally within the province Of
the local governments, since most Of the cities
are owners Of suburban real estate. which they
have bought for speculative purposes. More
OYER the existence OF stringent laws, which in
sst upon every citizen being the owner or the
renter Of a domicile under pain OF imprison-
ment, seems to demand that the municipalities
should give special attention TO the matter.
There is another side 70 the question The pro-
Mding OF independent houses for married work
ingmen in the suburbs, as carried on by the
worldnguaen's Home Association OF Bielefeld.
:or example, has met with disfavor from the
Social Democratic party. Mr.. Dawson writes:
The Socialist leaders desire social discontent; the
cause lives upon Il: IL the most important eie
nsnf n the partys material was assurs1, 55 Sas
Many OF the Workingnnen owners oI G1e SI't
eplOny formerly active SoSlaA Oei"oS'at7' DNs
tey are such no longer.
One OF the most valuable and suggestive OK
The institutions described by Mr.. Dawson is the
industrial Court, There are now over four hun
Cred OF these courts in Germany, which form an