Regulation of Industrial Labor. - Prohibition of employment of children under fourteen; half-time system between the ages of fourteen and eighteen; prohibition of employment of women in all industries where it is incompatible with morals or health; reduction of working-day to a maximum of eight hours for adults of both sexes, minimum wage; prohibition of night-work for all categories of workers and in all industries, where this mode of working is not absolutely necessary; one day's rest per week, so far as possible on Sunday; responsibility of employers in case of accidents, and appointment of doctors to attend persons injured; workmen's memorandum books and certificates to be abolished, and their use prohibited. Inspection of Work. - Employment of paid medical authorities, in the interests of labor hygiene; appointment of inspectors by the councils of industry and labor. Reorganization of the Industrial Tribunals and the Councils of Industry and Labor. Working women to have votes and be eligible; submission to the courts to be compulsory. Regulation of work in prisons and convents. Reorganization of the Agricultural Courts. - Nomination of delegates in equal numbers by the landowners, farmers, and laborers; intervention of the chambers in individual or collective disputes between landowners, farmers, and agricultural laborers; fixing of a minimum wage by the public authorities on the proposition of the agricultural courts. Regulation of Contracts to pay Farm Rents. Fixing of the rate of farm rents by committees of arbitration or by the reformed agricultural courts; compensation to the outgoing farmer for enhanced value of property; participation of landowners to a wider extent than that fixed by the Civil Code, in losses incurred by farmers; suppression of the landowners' privilege. Insurance by the provinces, and reinsurance by the state, against epizoötic diseases, diseases of plants, hail, floods, and other agricultural risks. Organization by the Public Authorities of Free Agricultural Education. Creation or development of experimental fields, model farms, agricultural laboratories. Purchase by the commune of agricultural implements to be at the disposal of their inhabitants; assignment of common lands to groups of laborers engaging not to employ wage-labor. Organization of a free medical service in the country. Reform of the Game Laws.-Suppression of gun licenses; suppression of game preserves; right of cultivators to destroy all the year round animals which injure crops. Intervention of Public Authorities in the Creation of Agricultural Coöperative Societies. - For buying seed and manure ; for making butter; for the purchase and use in common of agricultural machines; for the sale of produce; for the working of land by groups. Organization of agricultural credit. COMMUNAL PROGRAM Educational Reforms. - Free scientific instruction for children up to fourteen; special courses for older children and adults; organization of education in trades and industries, in coöperation with workmen's organizations; maintenance of children, except where the state intervenes to do so; institution of school refreshment rooms; periodic distribution of boots and clothing; orphanages; establishments for children abandoned or cruelly ill-treated. Judicial Reforms.-Office for consultations free of charge in cases coming before the law-courts, the industrial courts, etc. Regulation of Work. Minimum wage and maximum working day to be made a clause in contracts for communal works; intervention of trade associations in the fixing of rates of wages, and general regulation of industry; the echevin of public works to supervise the execution of these clauses in contracts; appointment by the workmen's associations of inspectors to supervise the clauses in contracts; rigorous application of the principle of tenders open to all, for all services which, during a transition period, are not managed directly; permission to trade unions to tender, and abolition of security-deposit; creation of Bourses du Travail, or at least offices for the demand and supply of employment, whose administration shall be entrusted to trade unions or labor associations; fixing of a minimum wage for the workmen and employees of a commune. Public Charity. — Admission of workmen to the administration of the councils of hospitals and of public charity; transformation of public charity and the hospitals into a system of insurance against old age; organization of a medical service and drug supply; establishment of public free baths and washhouses; establishment of refuges for the aged and disabled; night-shelter and food-distribution for workmen wandering in search of work. Complete neutrality of all communal services from the philosophical point of view. Finance. Saving to be effected on present cost of administration ; maximum allowance of 6000 francs for mayors and other officials; costs.of entertainment for mayors who must incur certain private expenses; income-tax; special tax on sites not built over and houses not let. Public Services. The commune or a federation of communes composing one agglomeration, to work the means of transport, tramways, omnibuses, cabs, district railways, etc.; and to work directly the services of general interest at present conceded to companies, lighting, water-supply, markets, highways, heating, security, health; compulsory insurance of the inhabitants against fire, except where the state intervenes to do so; construction of cheap dwellings by the commune, the hospices, and the charity offices. N CHAPTER VII SOCIALISM AND SOCIAL REFORM It is difficult nowadays for socialists to keep the details of their immediate program in advance of legislation. For more than a half century socialist and labor programs advocated the abolition of child labor without finding any considerable sympathetic response on the part of the general public. Only a few years ago a child-labor law was considered an unwarrantable interference with the free conduct of capitalist enterprise. To-day the legislation in some countries is in advance of the specific demand made by one or two of the socialist parties. There was a time when the socialists alone advocated national and municipal ownership of public utilities; to-day it is advocated by all the more advanced parties. A few years ago land municipalization would have been hailed as a revolution of the first order. Today there are few municipalities in Europe that do not see the necessity for radical reform in the ownership of land if slums are to be abolished. There are various causes for this extraordinary change in public policy, but few will deny that the credit for it belongs mainly to the growing socialist movement. The old parties quite naturally combat the intrusion of the new ideas. When the socialists in the legislative bodies endeavor to carry out their program, their measures are bitterly assailed by the opposition; but the socialists use such opportunities to review the evils of existing conditions and the necessity for reform, with the result that the community becomes aroused. The opposition, who first attack a socialist measure as criminal and vicious, then as well-intentioned but impractical, finally, after as much delay as possible, reintroduce the measure in as weak a form as they dare submit it, and pass it as a great and virtuous public act. It is not, I think, an exaggeration to state that on the continent of Europe, this is the legislative history of most of the important measures in the interest of labor passed during the last twenty years. The socialists are rarely permitted to pass legislation, but in the way described they are really the directing force in nearly all the continental legislative bodies. In other words, the old parties are gradually being forced to follow the line of the immediate demands of the socialist program. But quite aside from this influence over the course of legislation the socialists are doing a notable work in gradually breaking down that ancient and honorable form of political corruption which is inherent in class government. The patriotic citizens of foreign countries will tell you that corruption does not exist, and one must admit that there is a difference in the corruption abroad and that which obtains with us. Legislators are rarely bought. But then it is unnecessary, as in most cases the "traction magnates," the "gas thieves," etc., as we are disposed to call them, - where there are any left, are themselves members of legislative bodies. It is obviously unnecessary to buy themselves. The difference between corruption there and here is that we elect Tim Sullivan, Hinky Dink, and Johnny Powers |