The San Francisco call., 1908-08-19
INSURFS WORKERS
AGAINST IDlENESS
City OF Strassburg, Germany,
Inaugurates New Idea to
Minimize Unemployed
Municipality Adds Fifty Per
Cent to Fund Raised by
Industrial Societies
III rEIgm

III rsErr A new idea of con-
TTss65t 65tspYsggoSlco 81 ssggo9SS lcoVFcTa trolling unemploy
~ssNSEzIeTssS ment in the crafts
is insurance against
idleness, which has been IN force in
the city of Strassburg, Germany, since
1906. 1t has proved such a success
that the officials of more than so cities
in Germany have written to the council
of the city named for a full eXplana-
tion of the plan with a view to intro
ducing the same in their respective
municipalities. In report to the de-
partment of commerce and labor at
Washington United States Vice Consul
Walter A. Leonard at Kehl, in Baden,
writes as follows:
On December q. 1906, the city council of
Strassburg adopted rules and regulations for the
! insurance Of the unemployed. The city, in order
TO minimize unemployment much as possible
and TO have indirect control OF the same, has
offered to give extra allowance of SO per
cent in addition that which any industrial
society IA the city contributes to its members
who are inToluntarily unemployed provided. OF
regulations are complied with.
Twenty different Industrial societies. eompris
ing a membership OF about % per cent of the
workmen Of Strassburg. applied for membership
within mOnth after the adoption of the rules
societies i received the guaranteed support,
while the other s, on account Of their prosperous
condition and plenty of work, did not need to
take advantage Of the city's ofer
The city called upon TO pay 1000 marks
I lS4521 in lJtf. While industrial societies palo
/ 5000 marks ($l,904) 10 their members for such
1 insurance The apparent inconsistency of the
city not paying 1000 marks ts952)-50 per cent
/ Of the sum paid out by the societies-is eX-
planned by the fact that all the idle workmen
/ who received support from their respective 80
cieties did not comply in all particulars with
HE cftv's r,IIes and regulation hence were not
entitled 10 the extra allowance, the two chief
reasons heine residence of less than a wear in
the city and the failure OF the workmen 10 re-
port regularly at the city employment bureau.
This insurance system does not reach all the
1ar ~4TsHar gfQC rvhn
belong TO industrial societies. 1t is true that
less than 25 per cent OF the laborers at the be
Of the city's allowance guaranty. but the direc-
! tor Of the local employment bureau says that
trial societies has increased since the city intro
duced this system and that the percentage win
/ undoubtedly continue to increase and that these
/ insurance rules and regulations will encourage
the organization Of Industrial societies whose aim
I is to increase proficiency in their respective
/ trades and educate their members generally, and
/ eventually the great majority OF laborers, far
Z unemployment is concerned viii he under the
control Of the city through these societies.
B. Katschinski, proprietor of the
! Philadelphia shoe company, has do
mated two beautiful sterling silver low
ing cups (splepdid samples of the art
! Of silversmithing), TO be given to the
! union making the best appearance in
the labor council parade and to the
( union having the most unique and orig
maj AOdt IN lHS puiAuihs NTaueS pdIdue
These handsome trophies are certainly
worth a strenuous effort to win and
many unions will endeavor to secure
these much coveted prizes.
John F. Valentine, vice president OF
the American federation of labor, will
address a joint meeting of the two
lodges each numbered 205 of the boiler
makers tonight at 11S0 Kentucky
street, with view to bring about a
| consolidation of the two.
Local No 1929 of the retail shoe
clerks of Oakland has presented tc
local No. 40 of this city large. hand
some stein as a token of the good feel
ing existing between the two branches
OF the same union.