Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-21

operative associations, and altogether about
go political, social and benevolent organise-
men. Its FIRST duty Is to secure the election
of labor candidates to parliament; second. TO
propose and frame legislation for the bene-
Mt OF the working classes. and to educate
the public to understand, appreciate and
encourage such measures.
Some Of the legislation propositions OF the
labor representation committee are very
radical and, indeed, the Trades Unions Con-
gress of Great Britain goes much farther
In its platform than the Federation OF
Labor In the United States. A comparison
Of their platforms Of the two bodies IS quite
interesting. For example. both demand free
schools, free textbooks and compulsory
education, but the British unions insist
also upon state maintenance OF all school
elusive: feeding. clothing and educating
them.
Both insist upon the liability Of employers
for injuries to body or loss of life, and
sanitary inspection OF factories. workshops,
mines and homes, but the English demand.
in addition, regular free medical inspection
and attendance for all wage earuers' fami-
lies at government expense. ana sctentthc
physical culture for the children.
Municipal Department Stores.
Both demand municipal ownership Of pub
lie utilities and the naturalization OF tele-
graphs and telephones, but the British go
still farther. and propose acts of parlia-
ment nationalising all railways and ais;
requiring all municipalities to establish ae-
partment stores and sell the necessaries Of
life to the working classes at a Sigh. ad-
vance above cost: the establishment OF
municipal mortgage banks to loan money at
low rates on chattel mortgages to the poor;
who do not pay their rent. and requiring
that every adult wage Garner shall be paid
wages of at least 30 shiilings week for
forty-eight hours work, and boys of six
fna q nd n1d a On at
week.
Both demand that eight hours shall be
recognized full working day. and that
all persons shall be released from employ
ment one day In seven. Both demand laws
prohibiting child labor. but the English In
sist upon compulsory. secondary and tech-
meal education free of cost to all boys and
girls up to the age of sixteen, In order TO
qualify them to enter any trade or profess
sion: with government maintenance for all
students whose parents do not enjoy GER
tain income.
The American Federation of Labor advo-
Gates woman's suffrage The British unions
are strongly opposed to giving the franchise
to women. The Americans advocate the IN
itiative referendum system of legislation and
the right of recall. They also demand public
baths, Fairgrounds for children. and law
requiring bathrooms in all apartments and
houses used for habitations. These proposi-
lions do not appear In the demands OF the
British Trades Congress.
Nor does the latter make any reference
to the use OF the Injunction in labor dis
putes; perhaps because it was not neces.
sary The trades dispute law, which will
be enacted by parliament in a few days,
will answer the purpose.
Old Age Pensions.
After that legislation is complete the
labor representation committee proposes to
press upon parliament the passage Of the
so-called old age pension bill. which pro-
vides a pension of five shillings week for
every man, woman and child In the united
kingdom who attains the age of sixty
years, to De paid from the public treasury
in monthly installments until death. In
order to remove the faint of charity, the
millionaire is to receive this bounty as well
as the laborer and the seamstress: the
drunken loafer and the tramp, as well as
the Industrious and temperate mechanic, the
idle and vicious. as well as the hard-work-
ing mother of a family Of children. No
one man or woman over sixty years of age
in England Is to be exempt from the pro-
visions Of this pension law, except the In
mates Of almshouses. insane asylums, and
reformatory, penal and charitable institu-
TONS
The population of the united kingdom
is about 45,OOO.OO0, of whom about per
cent would come within the provisions of
the proposed law. The annual charge would
therefore be about STAG. 600. 900 In American
money, little more than our annual pen
sion roll.