第 11 节
作者:希望之舟      更新:2021-04-30 16:13      字数:9322
  were given to the owner of the best cereals and vegetables of all kinds as
  well   as   for   hemp;   flax;   cotton   and   silk;   and   for   the   best   manufactured
  articles of   every description。 The Government   exhibited at   every  district
  fair   the   most   improved      machinery     in   use  for   bettering   the   means    of
  production with skilled mechanics to operate it and any person desiring to
  purchase a machine could buy it from the Government at the actual cost of
  manufacture   with twenty  per   cent。  added。 The   Government   prizes   at   the
  district   fairs  excited    and   aroused    a  growing     interest   in  the   people   to
  improve their condition and by bringing them together in great gatherings
  41
  … Page 42…
  EURASIA
  made them more friendly to one another with a broader and deeper feeling
  for humanity。
  42
  … Page 43…
  EURASIA
  CHAPTER XV。
  DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS。
  I did not see any foreign Ambassadors in the Capital and on enquiring
  for   the   cause   of   their   absence   was   referred   to   the   Minister   of   Foreign
  Affairs for information。 He told me that the presence of Foreign Ministers
  in Eurasia would be in violation of the laws as no privileges were allowed
  to any person that could not be enjoyed by all the people; 〃and no doubt
  you     are   aware    that   under    the   monarchical       system    of   government
  Ambassadors   and   their  suites   were  privileged   persons   who   could   not   be
  arrested   and   punished   for   violating   the   laws   of   Eurasia;   and   they   could
  bring    into  the   country   everything     that  they   wanted     for  their  own    use
  without   paying      any   duty   on  them;   even    if   the  use  of   the  article  was
  prohibited by law; and taking advantage of this immunity; some of them
  brought into the country and circulated obscene books that would not be
  allowed to go through the mails and that would subject any citizen of this
  country to six months at hard labor; if they were found in his possession。
  〃When   a   government   by   the   people   came   into   power   in   Eurasia   the
  President      called    our    Legations     home      and    dismissed      the   foreign
  Ambassadors   and   Ministers   and   notified   every  Government   that   we   had
  dealings     with    that  in   the  future    the  Government        of  Eurasia    would
  communicate with them by mail and telegraph and would publish in the
  National Gazette of Eurasia all correspondence that passed between them;
  so that the people of both countries should know the character of the men
  to whom they had entrusted the management of foreign affairs。 We do not
  interfere   in   the   affairs   of   other   countries;   but   try   to   promote   peace   and
  good will among all nations。 We have enforced a law that met with bitter
  opposition in England and the United States of America and brought us to
  the verge of war; but the common sense of the working men and women in
  both    countries    forced   their   Government      to  yield   and   it  has  proved    a
  blessing to   the sailors。 The law  commands that   if a sailor on   any  vessel
  that   comes   into   Eurasian   ports;   no   matter   what   flag   she   flies;   makes   a
  complaint of ill…usage; the party complained against shall be arrested and
  43
  … Page 44…
  EURASIA
  tried and if found guilty sent to prison for the term of years corresponding
  to the offense。〃
  44
  … Page 45…
  EURASIA
  CHAPTER XVI。
  UNITED WORKERS OF EURASIA。
  I was introduced to the President of the United Workers of Eurasia and
  he told me that all the working men and women were united in one great
  union and that the present Minister of Labor was a lady who for years had
  championed the cause of Labor and that she was unceasing in her efforts
  to better their condition now that she was at the head of the Department of
  Labor。  The   wages   of   all   Government   employees   were   fixed   by   law   and
  could not be raised or lowered except by a two…thirds vote of the people;
  and    only   one   bill  from    each   department     could   be   submitted     by  the
  Parliament   to   the   people   to   vote   on   at   each   election;   so   that   graft   and
  corrupt practices could gain no footing by appealing to selfish interests。
  The    law   provided    a  liability   fund  for  sickness;   injuries   and  death
  among   working   men   and   women;   one…half   of   the   fund   payable   by   the
  working men and women and the other half by the employers。 The money
  for the fund had to be paid monthly。 Every working man and woman had
  to pay out of his or her wages a fixed sum for which the employer   was
  held responsible and every employer had to pay an equal sum for   every
  person in his employ。 This law applied equally to every person in Eurasia;
  the    employer     as   well   as  the   employed。      There    was   no   charge    for
  membership        in  the   labor   union    and   no   walking     delegates;    for  the
  Government gave them permission to hold their meetings in the churches。
  which were all Government properly; and in the public schools。 Whenever
  the members of the union in any district wanted an increase of wages the
  law required them to serve a written notice on the employer and a copy of
  it on the District Court。 The Chief justice then called both parties before
  the Court and ordered them to each select one person as arbitrator; and for
  those two selected to settle the dispute and if they could not agree; then the
  case went immediately before the District Court and a majority vote of the
  Court settled it。 As a result of this common…sense method of settling labor
  disputes there were no strikes。
  Every   corporation;   before   shutting   down   its   works;   had   to   serve   ten
  45
  … Page 46…
  EURASIA
  days' notice on its employees and also file a copy of it with the District
  Court; stating its reasons for so doing; and if the labor union protested; the
  Court   heard   the   case   and   if   there   was   unsufficient   cause   shown   by   the
  corporation it had to continue work until such time as it showed good and
  sufficient   reasons   to   stop   work。   The   Government   strictly   enforced   the
  eight…hour law; and no working woman was permitted to work overtime。
  Children were not allowed to work for wages under any circumstances for
  they   were   the   wards   of   the   State;   but   men   could   work   overtime   if   the
  union permitted them; with double pay for it。 The Government granted a
  pension   of   half   the   wages   yearly   received   by   every   working   man   and
  woman that was over sixty years of age and a full pension wage to every
  working man or woman over seventy  years of age; no matter what their
  financial condition was at that time。
  Every person before casting a ballot at the polls was required to show
  a   receipt   from  the   Department   of   Health   that   two   dollars   had   been   paid
  into the Old Age Pension fund for the previous year; which was a salutary
  measure in preserving the purity of elections by eliminating the shiftless
  and improvident from participation in the election。
  The     Government       obeyed     the   Fourth    Commandment;          〃Honor     thy
  Father  and thy  Mother that   thy  days   may  be   long   in   the land   which   the
  Lord thy God giveth thee。〃
  46
  … Page 47…
  EURASIA
  CHAPTER XVII。
  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH。
  I   learned   that   the   Department   of   Health   had   greater   responsibilities
  than any other department of the Government; for the physical; mental and
  moral welfare of the people was in its keeping。 One of its duties was to
  prevent   the    introduction     of  any   diseases   into   Eurasia;    and   to  make    it
  effective every person coming into the country had to undergo a physical
  examination   by   three   Government   physicians;   and   all   persons   that   were
  idiotic    or  insane   or   had   any   of  the  following     diseases;    viz。:  syphilis;
  t