The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-02-12

teen years old, 80 cents a week, up to
q maximum Of Is weeks unemployed
In any twelvemonth. The cost to the
state OF unemployment insurance il
about 100000 annually.
Government Employment Agencies.
The Labor Exchange Act Ia, in every
way, a supplement to the Unemploy.
ment Act. 1t provides government la
Dor exchanges to find jobs for work.
men and workmen for jobs. In the
three years since this scheme became
operative 100000 vacancies have
been filled and nearly 10000 Jobs Of
q casual nature found for workmen.
A large amount has been advanced by
the state for travelling expenses for
workmen for whom jobs have been
found. The workman who would claim
unemployment beneflt must flYpt show
that he has applied to the Labor Ex.
change for employment and been TN
able to obtain it, .-.... -,
!. Minimum Wage '.vhlts LIST :,
The Workmen's Compensation Act
10 not new, but An extension to other
workers. and 70 include compensation
In the case Of certain industrial die.
caves. The Trades Boards Act At
tackled the Industrial and social evil OF
sweating. II established trade boards,
composed OF employers and. workers
In equal proportions. together with
members appointed by the Board Of
Trade. These boards M minimum
ratss for wagss for time work in Ger.
tain trades and may also az general
minimum rates for piece work. The
trades TO which the act has already
bsaa made to apply are: Ready-mads
and custom tailoring; cardboard boz
making, machine-mAde lace and
netnnishing and chain-maki1s. A
white List Of employers who agree
70 the minimum wage 10 made public
and NO government contracts are
awarded 70 nrms not on this list.
+ kariy cseslWe Ter shepa.
The Harly Closing Act. which both,
efs some tourists who nnd shops
closed 1T unexpected and apparently
Unreasonable times. gives weekly half.
holidays al over Great Britain to shop
keeDers and their assistants. All
ehops-AmericAn, Storss-must b
clossd one week day not later than one
O'Clock In the afternoon. except where
food or newspapers are sold-which.
With letters, constitute the trinity for
which man will not willingly wait
Dvsn excepted shops may be~closed II
two-thirds Of those In the district In
tho trade wish them closed. All classes
Of shop assistants must b given one
ha1fholiday . week and the general
work hours are regulated BY law.
Other acts prevent the employment Of
women IN industrial occupations dur.
ing the night. make regulations re-
gafding the protection OF health in fac
tories and attack the problem Of child
labor. Tho Housing and Town Plan
ming Acts amplify in their provisions
earlier acts under which the state &C
Quires land for housing purposes and
deals with unsanitary areas and dwell.
inss.
Crank eociaiism7'
These are some of the more striking
measures which Great Britain's legis.
lature Is using as tools in the con-
struction OF tomorrow's British en-
pire.
1t is rank Socialism" said one, but
what are you going to do about It? A
reaction will come and come soon, but
until that does come these laws and
more Of the same kind will be enacted,
weakening private initiative, diminish.
ing self-respect and discouraging self
rn1ia hrfP ~ L..
be crutch, we will all grow infirm In
time and lean upon 1t. Contentment.
not discomfort, should be preached
We are sowing the wind to reap the
whirlwind."
Prosperity should pay q thank Of
fering." said another Britisher. $50
much for the new taxes. As for the
so-called socialistic legislation, it 10
not socialism but democracy, the Civ
Ing to every man q chance, and SO
far as honest. living wage and fair
laws for capital alike with labor. and
opportunity for education, leisure and
employment can make It 30. an equal
chance. Is not that the chief business
Of democratic state? As for content
ment-did you read the White Paper
an official report of the distribution
Of wealth."
THE toad beneath the harrow knows
Exactly where each tooth-point goes:
The butterfly beside the road
breaches contentment to that toad"
The eyes of the fool are in the ends
Of the earth" said Solomon. In Great
Britain 1t 10 q time Of introapection.
painful but profitable.
Lord Rossbery's Story.
Lord Rosebery told q story the
other day of IN Aberdeen professor
whose youth was properly full Of seal
for learning. but who was too poor to
crafty 1t. Through ono long fierce
winter In Scotland-where winters are
winters-he shivered without an over.
coat and starved without breakfasts,
because he had spent the money
which might have bought them upon
the purchase Of Hebrew Bible. In