Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-12-31
AID But NOT CHARITY
How Switzerland Helps the Unemployed
Without Humiliatin8 Them. :: =:

never allowed to cross the threshold
of these places. No one is admitted
to a Swiss relief-in-kind station un.
less his papers show that he has been
in regular work within the previous
three months and out of work for at
least five days; unless they show,
also, that neither the police nor his
own district authorities have any
reason for looking on him askance.
He who is admitted, however. is made
welcome. and is treated with consid'
Grafton as a respectable man whom
misfortune has befallen."
Apparently the station Is sort OF
wayside inn. where the accredited
guest gets a nights lodging and
meal or two. and is aided to find
Job. He may not tarry at the station
nor pay return visit to 1t within six
months.
"These stations are semi-private
institution; they we're organized and
are managed by local non-official COM
mittees, which have formed themselves
into an international unicn, and all
work together. They are supported
partly by voluntary contributions and
partly by State. municipal and com.
munal grants. The poor law author.
tiles have nothing whatever to do
with them. For respectable
work seekers a relief-in-kind station
is a real boon, for they can go there
not only without losing their self-re'
spect, but without running any risk
of being pauperized."
Several cities also contain home
inns, where workingmen, IL without
lodgings, may stay with their wives
and children for time at very small
expense, or even in some cases gratis.
There are also in the chief industrial
centres warmstuben (warm rooms),
provided either by the authorities or
by some private society, where the
unemployed may pass their days
while waiting for work"
In 1891 the city of Berne started
municipal bureau for insurance
against unemployment, the first OF
its kind in the world. This was a
voluntary organization, open to any
man who wished to pay dues of eight
cents a month and get an unemploy'
ment benefit of twenty cents day
for sixty days when he needed 1t.
The bureau is now Joined to the
Berne municipal labor bureau and the
insurance dues are fourteen cents a
month, with slightly increased ben.
efts in unemployment. Men unable
to work, above sixty years Of age, or
who are on strike, may not be In
sured. Members of the insurance bu-
reau are allowed to travel on all the
State railroads at half fares when
looking for jobs. The city authori.
ties, moreover, give preference to the
insured on municipal work, and try to
have all public works conducted In
the winter months, when there is the
greatest need of employment. About
600 persons were insured last year.
Of whom something less than half
asked aid, while the labor bureau oh.
tanned jobs for 1866 out of 1869
applicants.
AS long range attempts tt remedy
unemployment, which is seen to affect
unskilled labor especially, there are
compulsory courses in handicrafts in
most of the public schools, and labor
bureaus arrange for the apprentice.
ship of boys whose parents cannot be
trusted to arrange for it wisely. Mas.
tiers are directly responsible to the
local authorities for the technical
training of their apprentices. One.
tenth Of the State revenue from the
liquor monopoly is devoted to TEN.
perance work for the benefit of the
working class, which Is held to in.
clude comfortable housing and cheap.
wholesome food. The Bundesrath re-
Gently prohibited the manufacture Of
absinthe and Is considering measures
tn preyent its importation.