New-York tribune., 1906-07-14
Literary .Nese,s and Criticism.

then tried again: II think II would be better 70
low begin WITH ana did as Ra bs best @ work ' 'is Could
-Po aT 1ls lhe respondent quite as warmly objected
moFe put IN the respondent For an instant The
decided.
Last year no fewer Than 12s72 cases came be-
fore the several chambers of the Berlin Court
OF Industry. and of this number 6.123 (alflost
one-half1 were settled by conciliation, while OF
the rest 2,742 were withdrawn. The great ma
1ority of the claims related TO retained wages
TO compensation for dismissal without notice
In is per cent OF the total cases the claims
disposed Of in less than week. In 81 per cent In
less than a fortnight, and IN only per cent was
a month required.
Most interesting of all the institutions de-
scrihed, however, is the worlSman's secretaFiate
which can be best described as consisting of ga
chamber OF labor, intelligence bureau and poor
mans lawyer combined" What gives the secre-
tariates their peculiar distinction is that they
are carried on independent Of state or munich
pality, and maintained by the combined
trade societies OF a town or district. Their
primary object is TO give advice upon all the
laws which specially concern the working
classes. with some OF these laws the working
man is continually brought into palpable
tact, and oftentimes he is neither aware Of his
responsibilities to them, nor of their obligations
TO him." The secretariates prepare opinions on
points Of industrial law and custom submitted
10 them, draw UP memorials and formulate COM
plants, mediate In wage disputes represent
workpeople before industrial and legal tribunals
and IN some cases act as direct organizers of the
trade unions. The advice and help thus offered
without money and without price are not, how
ever. confined to members Of the unions. Many
no {vs,,s
and petty officials, and mot a few members Of
the middle class consult the workmen's secre-
tariate from no worthier motive than to cheat
the professional lawyer
The scope Of these secretariates is continually
growing with use, and the author ventures the
prediction that Sin score OF years they will
take place IN the life of civil society, the i'm
portance and value of which anticipated by
only the most sanguine leaders of this new labor
movement" Certain Of the municipalities have
undertaken 70 supply their own account,
through municipal information bureaus, the need
awakened by these independent institutions.
Among the forms Of charitable relief of which
the author treats are the methods adopted for
ing for and helping on their way wandering work
seekers and for furnishing work for the unem-
ployed, labor colonies, shelters for the homeless
and so on. OF correctional measures, he con-
siders chiefly the treatment adopted for dealing
with industrial rnalingerers and workhouse adj
ministration. He deals also With such sanitary
matters as 'the doctor In the schools" the anti
consumption crusade and the establishment of
convalescent homes for those discharged from
the hospitals but still unable 10 resume their
regular work. In all this there is much that is
novel and not little that may be suggestive
But for American readers the principal interest
In the volume will be found In those chapters
treating of the subjects which we have grouped
under the head Of Welfare"