Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-24
CONSUMPTION OF
LABOR

CONSUMPTION OF
LABOR
THE phrase is not new to us.
l In all ages the thing has been
done. In earlier days we had it
in operation in this country when
its citizens were forced to give a
certain amount of labor on the
roads in his vicinity or buy irnmu-
nifty for a cash equivalent of his
labor. During early days in civili-
cation multitudes Of men were con-
scripted to build pyramids in
Egypt or to work for the king or
their overlords in building castles
or other public works. In those
days the laborer VIA little better
than a slave. But in modern
times we have heard little Of con-
script labor working for the state,
unless it might be cases of convict
labor. However, Bulgaria is going
to try a revival of the conscript
labor theories. The people of that
country, ruined by the war, have
about nothing of value left but
their labor, and the state proposes
to take a part of that labor in lieu
of taxes. The Springfield Repub-
lican tells US the particulars OF
their new conscript labor law as
follows:
ITO the outside world Bulga-
ria's labor army seems to be a
joke, in so far as it is not ignored,
but the. Bulgars are taking it very
seriously and apparently regard it
as a national institution, to be kept
at any rate until the economic cri-
sis is over Next year compulsory
service for women, which hitherto
has been but tentatively enforced,
will go into full effect, and all Bull
garian womn will be liable for la
Dor from their 10th to their 40th
year of age.
"This, of course, does not mean
continuous labor. The period for
linen extends from the Goth to the
50th year, but most of the work is
done in the first year of service,
when the men called up must work
eight months for the state receiv-
ing food, clothing and lodging, but
no pay. After this the %conscript
is liable for 20 days of labor an
nually until his 50th year, 10 for
the nation, 10 for the township in
which he lives. But after the first
year he may commute labor for a
fixed payment in money, provided
that the communications do not ex-
coed 40 per cent Of the recruits in
Sofia, and 30 per cent elsewhere.
"The organization is on a quasi
military basis, the men being put
in groups of from 20 to rs and as
signed to some special task such
as road-making, bodybuilding,
railway construction, ditch dig
ging, stone q%uarrying, swamp
draining, timber cutting, factory
labor, the care Of animals, and so
on. A writer for La Tribuna of
Rome lately watched gangs of these
conscript workers laboring on the
railway, some 20 men in a gang
toiling diligently and cheerfully
under a foreman; other gangs
could be seen all the way along
the line. The men wore khaki uni
forms but showed their civilian
character by wearing bicycle caps.
For Bulgaria the organization
of such a labor army is compare
lively simple, because three
lfourths of the 100000 people arc
peasants, and a corresponding pro-
portion of the recruits are assigned
to farm work or undertakings for
the promotion of agriculture. The
%conscripts give to the state, that
is to say, services of the kind in
which most of them engage as a
life occupation. Much used to be
said by advocates of compulsory
military service of its alleged eco
nomic value as a discipline for
| work, but it is obvious the Bulga-
rian plan of substituting useful
work for military drill is a more
direct and efficient means of train
ing for economic service"
PROPER PRECAUTION
Mr.. Sneedo (aftpr reading the even