第 75 节
作者:
知恩报恩 更新:2021-02-20 16:17 字数:9322
st attention; whether they refer to work of a permanent or temporary character。
We shall also be glad; through the information office of Labour Department; to give you any further information as to our plans; &c。; or an Officer will wait upon you to receive instructions for the supply of workers; if requested。
As no charge will be made for registration of either the wants of employers or the wants of the unemployed; it will be obvious that a considerable outlay will be necessary to sustain these operations in active usefulness; and that therefore financial help will be greatly needed。
We shall gratefully receive donations; from the smallest coin up; to help to cover the cost of working this department。 We think it right to say that only in special cases shall we feel at liberty to give personal recommendations。 This however; will no doubt be understood; seeing that we shall have to deal with very large numbers who are total strangers to us。 Please address all communications or donations as above; marked 〃Central Labour Bureau;〃 etc。
WE PROPOSE TO ENTER UPON A CRUSADE AGAINST 〃SWEATING。〃 WILL YOU HELP US?
Dear Sir;in connection with the Social Reform Wing a Central Labour Bureau has been opened; one department of which will deal especially with that class of labour termed 〃unskilled;〃 from amongst whom are drawn BOARDMEN; MESSENGERS; BILL DISTRIBUTORS; CIRCULAR ADDRESSERS; WINDOW CLEANERS; WHITE…WASHERS; CARPET BEATERS; &C。; &C。
It is very important that work given to these workers and others not enumerated; should be taxed as little as possible by the Contractor; or those who act between the employer and the worker。
In all our operations in this capacity we do not propose to make profit out of those we benefit; paying over the whole amount received; less say one halfpenny in the shilling; or some such small sum which will go towards the expense of providing boards for 〃sandwich〃 boardmen; the hire of barrows; purchase of necessary tools; &c。; &c。
We are very anxious to help that most needy class; the 〃boardmen;〃 many of whom are 〃sweated〃 out of their miserable earnings; receiving often as low as one shilling for a day's toil。
WE APPEAL TO ALL WHO SYMPATHISE WITH SUFFERING HUMANITY; especially Religious and Philanthropic individuals and Societies; to assist us in our efforts; by placing orders for the supply of Boardmen; Messengers; Bill…distributors; Window…cleaners and other kinds of labour in our hands。 Our charge for 〃boardmen〃 will be 2s。 2d。; including boards; the placing and proper supervision of the men; &c。 Two shillings; at least; will go direct to the men; most of the hirers of boardmen pay this; and some even more; but often not more than one…half reaches the men。 We shall be glad to forward you further information of our plans; or will send a representative to further explain; or to take orders; on receiving notice from you to that effect。
Believe me to be; Yours faithfully; etc。
CENTRAL LABOUR BUREAU。
TO THE UNEMPLOYED。MALE AND FEMALE。
NOTICE。
A Free Registry; for all kinds of unemployed labour; has been opened at the above address。 If you want work; call and make yourself and your wants known。 Enter your name and address and wants on the Registers; or fill up form below; and hand it in at above address。 Look over the advertising pages of the papers provided。 Tables with pens and ink are provided for you to write for situations。 If you live at a distance; fill up this form giving all particulars; or references; and forward to Commissioner Smith; care of the Labour Bureau。
Name。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Address。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
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Kind of work wanted。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Wages you ask。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
… I Name I I … I Age I I … I During past 10 years have I you had regular employment? I I … I How long for? I I … I What kind of work? I I … I What work can you do? I I … I What have you worked at I at odd times? I I … I How much did you earn when I regularly employed? I I … I How much did you earn when I irregularly employed? I I … I Are you married? I I … I Is wife living? I I … I How many children and ages? I I … If you were put on a farm to I work at anything you could do; I and were supplied with food; I lodging; and clothes; with a I view to getting you on your feet; I would you do all you could? I …
HOW BEGGARY WAS ABOLISHED IN BAVARIA BY COUNT RUMFORD。
Count Rumford was an American officer who served with considerable distinction in the Revolutionary War in that country; and afterwards settled in England。 From thence he went to Bavaria; where he was promoted to the chief command of its army; and also was energetically employed in the Civil Government。 Bavaria at this time literally swarmed with beggars; who were not only an eyesore and discredit to the nation; but a positive injury to the State。 The Count resolved upon the extinction of this miserable profession; and the following extracts from his writings describe the method by which he accomplished it:
〃Bavaria; by the neglect of the Government; and the abuse of the kindness and charity of its amiable people; had become infested with beggars; with whom mingled vagabonds and thieves。 They were to the body politic what parasites and vermin are to people and dwellings breeding by the same lazy neglect。〃(Page 14。)
〃In Bavaria there were laws which made provision for the poor; but they suffered them to fall into neglect。 Beggary had become general。〃 (Page 15。)
〃In short;〃 says Count Rumford; 〃these detestable vermin swarmed everywhere; and not only their impudence and clamorous importunity were boundless; but they had recourse to the most diabolical arts and the most horrid crimes in the prosecution of their infamous trade。 They exposed and tortured their own children; and those they stole for the purpose; to extort contributions from the charitable。〃(Page 15。)
〃In the large towns beggary was an organised imposture; with a sort of government and police of its own。 Each beggar had his beat; with orderly successions and promotions; as with other governments。 There were battles to decide conflicting claims; and a good beat was not unfreguently a marriage portion or a thumping legacy。〃(Page 16。)
〃He saw that it was not enough to forbid beggary by law or to punish it by imprisonment。 The beggars cared for neither。 The energetic Yankee Statesman attacked the question as he did problems in physical science。 He studied beggary and beggars。 How would he deal with one individual beggar? Send him for a month to prison to beg again as soon as he came out? That is no remedy。 The evident course was to forbid him to beg; but at the same time to give him the opportunity to labor; to teach him to work; to encourage him to honest industry。 And the wise ruler sets himself to provide food; comfort; and work for every beggar and vagabond in Bavaria; and did it。〃(Page 17。)
〃Count Rumford; wise and just; sets himself to reform the whole class of beggars and vagabonds; and convert them into useful citizens; even those who had sunk into vice and crime。
〃'What;' he asked himself; 'is; after the necessaries of life; the first condition of comfort?' Cleanliness; which animals and insects prize; which in man affects his moral character; and which is akin to godliness。 The idea that the soul is defiled and depraved by what is unclean has long prevailed in all ages。 Virtue never dwelt long with filth。 Our bodies are at war with everything that defiles them。
〃His first step; after a thorough study and consideration of the subject; was to provide in Munich; and at all necessary points; large; airy; and even elegant Houses of Industry; and store them with the tools and materials of such manufactures as were most needed; and would be most useful。 Each house was provided with a large dining…room and a cooking apparatus sufficient t