\0 TES AND ABSTRA CTS 331
after that a pension fixed by the commission having the fund in charge. In case of sickness it begins with twenty-two per cent, of his wages and gradually decreases to seven and one-half per cent, during the eighth month when it ceases. Widows of employe's are also pensioned from this fund. Employe's between the ages of twenty and forty may provide for old age pensions by paying two per cent, of their wages. To this the company adds a sum equal to about one and one-half per cent, of the wages. An initiation fee graduated according to age is charged. The pension in case of per- manent disability is $4.00 per month ; in case of sickness $3.00 per month. The "aid fund " is given by the company for pensions and for temporary relief of distress. The company has a corps of physicians and pharmacists who are furnished a family upon the payment of twenty cents per month.
The company also looks after the housing of its employe's. 550 five-room house > with cellars have been built upon two and one-half acre lots. These lots are used as gardens. A house and garden rents for $1.50 per month. If a man wants to build his own house, money is loaned him interest free, and deductions are made from his wages until the amount is repaid. The company does not employ married women at all. It helps to support a manual training school which the children of the village attend, provides free lectures, concerts, and libraries.
The workmen have organized three institutions, viz., a benefit society, a coopera- tive store, and a savings-bank. This benefit society in return for small dues gives benefits in case of sickness. The cooperative store furnishes everything, mining tools, powder, etc., included, at wholesale prices. The savings-bank receives about $10,000 annually upon deposit.
The company has tried to solve the wage question by the "scale-wage," and diffi- culties between the company and its employe's by a council of arbitration. The employe's are paid by the ton of coal mined and the price per ton varies with the price of coal and the amount mined by the individual employe*. The council of arbitration consists of twelve men, six delegates from the laborers and six from the company, and has power to decide all differences. Its decision on any question is final for three months. J. H. GORE in Catholic World, July 1896.
Factory Inspection in Austria. The factory inspectors in Austria have a double function. They make reports which not only give evidence as to particular cases in which there was trouble, but also give information concerning labor in gene- ral. Thousands of industries in different parts of the country are examined annually and the information gained is invaluable. The inspectors also examine and try to settle cases which come in conflict with the law. In this their power is only advisory. They take evidence, examine, judge, and advise, but do not have the power to enforce their decisions. This lack of police power greatly hinders the efficiency of the work. So the inspectors should be given police power. The system of reports should be extended so as to furnish more information and this information should be better dis- seminated. The efficiency of the work depends upon the work of the individual inspectors. Their districts should be smaller so that they may do their work more thoroughly. More inspectors should be added. Then, too, in order to secure the greatest efficiency of the work, the whole work should be clearly separated from that of the Department of Manufactures to which it is now bound. A reform law provid- ing for these points is needed. E. MISCHI.F.R in Zritschrift fitr Volkswirtschaft, Sotial- politik, und Verwaltung.
Labor Unions in Germany and their Regulation. Labor unions were introduced into Germany about i860 and were from the first of two kinds, the Hirsch- Duncker or non-political, and the socialist-democratic, which were political. The former had a rapid growth up to 1870 when owing to the introduction of cooperative associations and benefit societies, their numbers fell off until 1876, when their funds were secured by law. Then they began creating funds and giving various kinds of benefits, and, as a result, had a rapid growth. The socialist-democratic unions had a more rapid growth up to 1878 when they were suppressed on account of their agita- tion. They were gradually reorganized upon a non -political basis and have done
