Evening star., 1909-05-26

appropriate to each case. and yet en-
courage general thrift and independence.
and (c) restoration. 50 As ta DrsasMre ere
Norkmen- by -IeatorAtfve treatment Tor
return to Independent life
1t is recommended that there be clas-
sffication of all laborers In England in
order to separate the worthy from the
unworthy. when it becomes necessary to
distribute public assistance sort of
card index, giving the record. character
and habits of every workman In the parish,
will not only enable the public assist
ance committee" to discriminate, but will
committing to a detention colony" those
who are f1abitually guilty Of refusing to
maintain themselves or their families and
indulge In gambling, drink or idleness,
with result that his or her family be-
comes dependent upon charity.
THE loafer thus being taken OFF the
hands of the public assistance author
ites, the report continues. those bodies
will be in a better condition to apply
better scheme of restorative treatment to
the better classes Of workmen."
Suggest Industrial Workshops.
The commission recommends that in
dustrial or agricultural institutions"
should be established in the country or
on the outskirts of towns. where persons
who are out of employment may be given
labor under the direction of the public
assistance committee" and thus earn
wages enough to support them until they
can obtain regular private employment
For Industrial occupations inexpensive
workshops should be erected, and housing
accommodations should be provided for
those who cannot remain In their own
homes. These industrial and agricultural
institutions should be in direct communi-
cation with the labor exchanges because
one Of the primary objects Is to secure
private employment for the inmates as
rapidly as possible
Another of the many measures recon-
mended by the commission to provide for
the honest and Industrious unemployed is
labor colonies as a substitute for the
present workhouse, where able-bOdied
and Industrious workmen may be lodged
and employed so long as it is necessary:
The colony system should provide several
distinct classes of treatment, either in
separate colonies or in distinct divisions
of the same colony, and should be care
fully controlled and supervised by special
officers Of the local government board
Intended to Make iDistinction.
1t is little difficult to distinguish be-
tween the industrial or agricultural in
stitution'' and the labor colony but it
would seem that the former Is to be used
for unemployed laborers who have their
own homes, and the latter for those
who have none. 1t is intended to make
distinction between the poorhouse or the
Workhouse, as at present managed, so as
to preserve the self-respect of the laborer
by paying him for his work and per-
mitting him to provide his own susie
nance SO long as he remains In the in
stitution or the colony. The inmates of
workhouses receive no pay, and are kept
entirely at the public expense. This is a
benevolent distinction. based upon the
theory that an able-bodied workman who
happens to be out of employment,
through no fault Of his own, should be
given an opportunity to earn his living.
even If his wages are paid from the pub
lie funds. until he can obtain work from
private employers.
The commission discussed the emigra-
ton question at length and says: while
as a, sufficient remedy for unemploy-
ment, 1t Is nevertheless q valuable means
of dealing with a certain class of cases
which are likely to make "a fresh start
under new conditions More especially Is
| 1t indispensable In dealing with districts
where an excessive congestion of labor
has taken place and where exceptional
treatment Is called for
The commissioners are of the opinion
that the colonial Office might control and
direct emigration by keeping itself in
formed of the demands for labor in the
British colonies and providing means of
| assisting honest and able-bodied workmen
and their families to reach such destina-
tions at public expense, with an arrange
ment so that the funds advanced shall
be repaid when the beneficiary is able to
do so. The difficulty In promoting emigra-
tion Is to distinguish between persons who
will make good colonists and those whose
love Of change and adventure causes them
to seek q new country. AS a rule the
Industrious workman is not anxious to
leave his home even when he happens to
be temporarily out of employment. and
on the other hand the idle and Indifferent
are not wanted.
Right Of Suffrage.
| The commission discusses at length and