The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-12
GERMAN LABOR NEWS
FULL Of INTEREST
Much Legislation Is Enacted for
Benefit of Workers-Shorter
Work Day in Austria.
Results Prove That Long Hours
Descrease Production and No
One Profits From Them.

So far as legislation for the protec-
tion of the working class is concerned
past sessions Of the German federal
parliament, the reichstag, have been of
most satisfactory character, writes
Hans Fehlinger in American Fedora
tionists. The practical influence of
the industrial workers on legislation Is
small in spite of the fact that the Ia
Dor party is numerically stronger in
the German parliament than In the
legislatures of other European COM
monwealths. Such a condition Of af-
fairs must be regarded as quite nat
ural in country governed on autocra-
tic principles slightly yelled by feeble
imitation Of constitutionalism. The
constitution Of the German empire
gives the reichstag little more than
the position of a body for registering
the proposals of the government.
Amendments to those proposals are
not binding on the government, the
members Of which are not responsible
to the parliament, but to the emperor.
If the governments proposals are
not accepted by the representatives of
the people the emperor can dissolve
that body and order fresh election.
The German labor legislation does not
include anything of very great value
from the workers standpoint. The
most important laws are those provid-
ing for compulsory insurance, but
they are based on a paternal principle,
their working is cumbrous, and the re-
suits have been meager. Since 1908
only one law directly affecting the in
terests of the workers has been enact
ed, that providing for the establish
ment Of commercial courts which are
organized similarly to the trade courts
formed in 1900.
The purpose Of these institutions is
the settling Of disputes arising out of
the labor contract. The last two ses-
sions Of the reichstag were, besides
the discussion of the budget, complete
ly occupied with the proceedings con-
corning the commercial treaties and
the introduction Of new taxes.
The Prussian state parliament pass
ed the miners protection bill, but it
has been amended by the conserva-
tives and the liberal capitalists that
there is very little left that Is of ad-
vantage to the Worlkmen. Az $3.g q.
tsfs ustrffa faOtory 11w has bee1l
twenty years in existence. It.: has
been amended only in some minor
points. During 1905 parliament enact
ed law providing for the establish
ment of Sunday rest of shop assis-
tants. A programme for the extern
sion of workmen's insurance was put
hof ho
is the result Of energetic agitation
by organized labor, whose demands
culminate in the Introduction of old
age and invalidity Insurance.
1t is not out of place here to call
attention to the results Of one of the
most important Austrian labor laws
Up to the year 1902 the daily hours in
the mines were limited to twelve by
law, only ten of which could be spent
in actual work. In 1902 a new law
was put in force which limited the
hours Of those who worked under
ground in coal and Ignite mines to
nine reckoned from bank to bank, or
a reduction Of three hours per day
Thus 70.4 per cent of the Austrian coal
miners had their working day reduced
by law.
Statistics have been compiled show
ing the average production per shift
worked before and after the applica-
tion of the new act, and these prove
that in many mines the reduction OF
the hours of labor had not resulted In
a reduction of the output. OF the 302
mines in whose output investigation
was made the returns show that in It's
mines the ouput was greater. When
an average is taken Of the total output
Of the 302 mines, we find that in 1901
the year before the reduction of hours
the production per shift in coal mines
was 1000 metric tons, while in 1908
and 1904, the two years following the
reduction, the average production had
risen to 1899 and 1.066 metric tons re-
spectively. This is another proof of
our contention that long hours de-
crease rather than increase production,
bringing benefit to no one, not even
the employer