A Socialist's Programme.

Evening Star, Issue 7333, 4 October 1887, Page 3

A Socialist's Programme.

Mr H. H. Champion, a large and intelligent employer of labor, has recently given a series of lectures on Socialism in the West End of London. In the concluding one he sketched out a progressive plan of constructive Socialism, which he believed was possible without entirely breaking up the framework of society, and without resorting to any measures of violence to carry jt into effect. First of all, there must be a thorough democratic control of Parliament. To secure this he would grant universal suffrage to adult men and women, would throw the cost of all elections on the rates, and pay members to the extent of say L 250 a-year, in order to enable any capable working man to serve his country. He would make : all offices elestive, and have triennial, and ultimately annual Parliaments. As citizens must understand what are their rights and duties before they can make a proper use of parliamentary power, be would make elementary and possibly secondary education perfectly free, and would reduce a'l working hours to eight per day, because it was impossible for men working lopger to be in .a healthy physical and mental condition, and to give proper attention to public affairs. It would be impossible to legislate in advance of public opinion; but he believed the public opinion would exist if there were proper leaders to guide it. At present there was noparty leader who was in earnest about any social reforms. •Having obtained real political power for the people, freed from the influences of wealth and privilege, and, having enlightened the publio mind, he would, by meanß of a graduated income tax, rising to, say Is 8d a pound for LSOO a-year, 5s in the pound for L 5,000, and so on ; and by a heavy land tax raise a fund with which to compensate, where necessary, those whose property was taken from them for the public good. Property-owners who used their property for the degradation of their tenants should be deprived of their proEerty without compensation. Power shonld e given to losal authorities to compulEorily purchase land at the valuation upon which the laud tax was paid, and land should be purchased for allotments, for the erection of laborers' cottage?, and for the settlement of s;°f-supporting working committees of men who were on the verge of starvation, and who would otherwise become paupers. The railway systems should be nationalised, with the view ccheapening transit, the con}pen~ation taking the form qf terminable annuities. The entire control of the drink traffic should bo vested in comiivltees themselves. The operations of capital should be contracted as far as possible, and it should be rendered illegal to deprive a man of the means of carrying on his employment. Royalties on mines should be taxed in the same manner as land and capital.