The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-08-05

hOiC 10 NeiSo q iIiOQSiI obSdlil lctuIi-
dry, which does all the work for the
fa mily of any workingman at ten cents
a week. Inasmuch as neither the bath
nor the laundry can be maintained at
such low prices, they are opened to
the public at ordinary rates in order
to make good the shortage. The We'll
fare Institutes originated with TIE
municipali les, but the private firms of
Germany arc now beginning to sup
! port them, and the liberal spirit which
they represent is destined TO play drl
important part in German industrial
life.
Although poorly paid, the workmen
in Germ an factories are competent. 1t
is not uncommon to see mechanics
working on an engineering order from
England and using the original draw
ings with English measures. Once
" hen a foreman was asked IF it would
not be necessary to turn the measure
fnents into metric values, he replied:
''Oh, no. any Of the men can work from
English figures" How few American
employees could work out a job ac-
cOrding to a foreign system of meas
u1ements. While the Germans STRIFE
~ observe the rules of their esta blIsh
ments and do not shirk, they are MT
in the least ingenious. They never
make suggestions and are not erlcoui
aged to do SO. They do what they are
told and do it well, but there is nc
stimulation to inventive genius as liz
America
EVERY MAN MUST INSURE.
The workingmens obligatory insur-
a1.ce law in Germany is an ldeal
scheme which was founded in the in
terests of the working classes. This
provides that each firm must establish
a fund, to which the employers cor
tribute one-third and the working peo
PIE two thirds the rate of contribution
being three and a half per cent. of the
wages earned. The benefits are sick
pay for members for twenty-six weeks |
to the extent of half the average wage, |
including medical attendance, drugs, |
and free hospital service. A half rate |
is made to the families of all members. |
The scheme includes a provision for |
funeral expenses and an allowance for |
widows and orphans, SO that protec- |
ton is made against almost any con- |
tingency that might arise in the lives
of the workers. And the strong point |
of the system is that it is not charity; |
it is the laborers own savings that are
used in his behalf
There is a compulsory savings bank |
to which all the people in the factory |
must contribute. Married men deposit |
five per cent. of their wages, and UNI
married men ten per cent, unless they |
have mothers or sisters dependent upon |
them, in which case they pay the same |
as if they had wives. Each laborer |
must allow his savings to accumulate
until they have reached the sum or
$500; after that he is free to use ms
wages as he pleases. This nest-egg (
can only be disturbed for the purchase
of a house or furnishing a house IN
case of marriage. Six per cent. IN
terest is paid on all deposits up to \
$500. Some firms maintain resources
to relieve unusual cases of need that
are not covered by the legal fund, and
others pension their debilitated en-
ployes.
TRADES TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.
Germany has made greater progress
along the line of industrial education
than any other country. The argu-
ment in favor of teaching trades IN
schools rather than picking up knowI-
edge in a haphazard manner, is that
P hoy may have a negligent father or
careless instructor who Will cause hlIh
to commit errors or execute his task
clumsily. One of the greatest DIM
,ulties in teaching trades OF low J
-ank, such as weaving, spinning, rope
and machine building. Is 10
ind a convenient time for instruction.
1t is necessary for most of the stu
Tents in these trades to earn living .
rom the outset
Al bout the only time the majority
# them can attend school is even +
ngs and Sundays. 1t is an undouot-
q hardship for young people who are
bodily exhausted from working all day
o come home and apply themselves
o lessons. but they are encouraged 10
make the effort on account of the ad-
itionaI skill and earning power when
viii come to them from proper tram
ng Another incentive is the law that
boy who makes Roadway with ms
tudfes is entitled to the privilege or
his term of military service
rom TWO or three years TO one year.
)ne often sees this advertisement IN
he paper: Wanted. a boy possessing
certificate for one year" The Ger
mans undoubtedly believe in Bis