New-York tribune., 1906-11-18
Foreign Resorts.
oome.Grand Hotel Excelsior
n
49, Most Modern House. Splendid Position. -
" We Ve6eo
UNDER SAME MANAGEMENT As The GRAND HOTEL NATIONAL lucEaME

fifteen or twenty-five years ago. system
which has produced these results Is worthy OK
high praise and painstaking imitation.
There is more less pauperism In North Ger
man towns. but instead of increasing In most
alarming way. 1t Is in England under lax
and ignorant administration of the poor law. IT
Is diminishing steadily. Here. too, the talent
for organization, which Is Germanys great gilt
among the nations, comes out most satisfacto-
rily. The compulsory system of insurance against
sickness accident, chronic infirmity and old age
operates as preventive measure against pau
perism. and ought. In the course OF time. 10
lessen the public cost of the oldtime administra-
ton Of the poor law There is also a new class
of insurance against temporary loss of work. but
it is in an experimental stage. and the results
are not definitely known. The resources Of the
German system are not exhausted by the COM
MEX ARRANGEMENTS for insurance of the humber
classes of workers The truth Is recognized that
the most carefully devised laws cannot provide
against exceptional cases of distress and pow
erty among industrious and self-respectins
working people Systematic enorts are niaue
by municipal authorities. charitable socieues
and trade unions to provide rel1er measures ior
the unemployed. Magdeburg has, for example
its public refuge. where those out of work ana
money can be sheltered overnight, and an en-
pIoyment agency is conducted In connection with
It, There is also relief station. where those
In search Of work can be cared for ana passed
on to the next station Magdeburg. like other
large German cities has its labor colony, where
all applicants are received with the understand
ing that they can remain as long as they are
willing to work for their board and lodging
Unlike the great majority of similar colonies it
Is an industrial rather than an agricultural es-
tablishment and supplies employment In many
handicrafts and occupations. In times OF ex-
ceptonal distress public relief work is also pro-
vided on q large scale under rigorous super
vision In all these varied undertakings those
out of work are assisted in finding employment
and working out their own salvation The
German system neither manufactures paupers
nor multiplies beggars.
There is another institution IN timeworn
Magdebvrg which has interested me. because so
far as I know, there is nothing like 1t In either
England or America This is a municipal bureau
where there are trained officials who can be con-
suited by poor people without expense whenever
either information or advice is wanted on any
point of law or private rights. The trade unions
have established bureau system of their own
in large Industrial communities merely for the
benefit of their own members; but this is a COM
prehensive plan for giving the working popula-
tion the advantage of professional advice under
the direct sanction of the local government
whenever they are in perplexty over any matter
and do not know what is best for them to do
The peoples lawyer system Is popular IN
Magdeburg The officials are accessible without
introduction formality. and are the best
peacemakers in the town Disputes between
tenants and landlords. servants and employers.
workmen and manufacturers. husbands and
wives, and chickering's among neighbors are con-
stantIy settled by them. When there are so
| many intricacies In the operation of Insurance
systems inheritance local taxation and mill
tary service. there are manifest advantages in
an information bureau which commands general
confidence and respect. There is. perhaps. no
other country where knowledge of law Is more
essential In the everyday life OF the masses;
and in grim, grandmotherly Magdeburg 1t Is
cbean law and untainted with self-interest. IL
the Germans worship their System, it should not
he an unknown god. l. N. r.