How Berlin Deals with the Unemployed.

Evening Star, Issue 7473, 17 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

How Berlin Deals with the Unemployed.

An Englishman in Berlin gives the 'Pall Mall Gazette' the following account of the workmen's colony (Arbeiter-Kolonie) move, ment, now established in sixteen parts of Germany : The first colony founded was that of Wilhelmsdorf, near Bielefeld, which was opened on 17th August, 1882. The ends in view are stated to be " to employ industrious and unemployed men of all professions and classes, so far as they are really capable of work, in agrarian and other labor until it is possible to procure them remunerative work elsewhere, and to help them to quit the life of itinerants; and also to remove the excuse of lazy vagabonds, that they have no work." So far all the workmen's colonies but one are rural. Extensive plots of land are bought or leased, buildings are placed upon them, and then the ground is cultivated and made to yield produce which generally more than covers the expense of the labor employed. Thuß the colony at Schneckengrun, in Saxony, has an estate of about 270 acres, and there is accommodation for 120 colonists. The largest colony is that of Wilhelmsdorf, which last year had accommodation for 360 men, and which during the first four and a half years of its existence admitted 3,500 unemployed persons, all of whom were relieved from pressing want, and most of whom were helped to settled employment at their own trades. The Berlin Workmen's Color, y is the only industrial colony 1 in Germany, and the novelty of the institution will perhaps jus-

tify a brief outline of its work. Berlin hag, it is true, other agencies for dealing with the unemployed. Such are the two socalled asylums (Asyle), where a large though limited number of men are able to obtain a night meal, lodging, and breakfast in the morning, the condition being, however, enforced that this relief can only be claimed four times in the month by the same person. There are also refuges for the obda.-hlose (shelterless), and these are excellent in their way. The workmen's colony, however, does far more than such institutions. It not only gives shelter, but provides work and a home until the unemployed has found work or circumstances occur which render his discharge unavoidable—a contingency depending, of course, upon the man himself. The colony was founded in 1883 by the " Verein fur die Bereliner ArbeiterKolonie," an association which offers membership to all persons who undertake only to relieve house beggars in exceptional cases, giving them tickets for work at the colony instead, and who pay a minimum subscription of two marks. A short time ago I visited this interesting institution. The colony is situated in Beinicken-dorfer-Strasse, which lies at the very outskirts of the city and to the north beyond the industrial quarter. The buildings consist of dwelling-houses for the managing officials, rooms for the colonists—dormitory, 1 dining-room, reading-room, bathroom, etc.— offices, a series of workshops, and storerooms. Behind the building is a plot of land several acres in extent, which has been purchased by the association, and which is used advantageously for the cultivation of fruits of all kinds, flowers and vegetables, from which a respectable income is derived. At the time of my visit the colony was not full, for at this season of the year work is tolerably plentiful. In a few weeks, however, its accommodation will be taxed to the utmost. The buildings are of plain construction, and for the most part were not erected for their present purpose ; but they fulfil every requirement, and possess the substantial merit that their cost was very moderate. Up to the end of last year 72,000 marks had been paid for buildings and land as found, and 13,000 for new erections—together 85,000 marks, upon which interest is paid. The administration of the Berlin Workmen's Colony is exemplary. Order and good management are observable everywhere, and the beaming of the colonists is respectful and quiet. At the head of the colony are an inspector (Pastor Weber) and a hausvater, who together are responsible for the proper working of the institution and the good conduct of its inmates. The workmen are engaged eleven hours a day for six days in the week. Sunday is a holiday—and in this respect the colonists are better off than a large part of their fellow-workmen—and is given up to churchgoing, religious service at home, reading, and recreation. The work carried on ia various in character. In deciding upon the industries that would be introduced, the directors of the colony had to weigh several important considerations. The ideal would be every man to his trade, but this is palpably impracticable on account of the expense that would be incurred in the provision of the requisite tools and material. Three systems are followed in the employment of the colonists:—(l) They are employed at different trades on the premises on behalf of the institution. (2) They are employed on the premises on behalf of outside undertakers, who are furnished witb rooms and workmen, though they are expected to providetheir own tools, utensils, and of course raw material; while the mode of payment is so much per head, or per work done. (3) Workmen are employed outside the colony, a plan which is largely adopted in summer. Of these three systems the first is regarded as the most desirable, since the workmen are kept under careful control. On the other hand, systems two and three open the door to irregularities of an objectional kind, one of which is the consumption of spirits, which is strictly forbidden within the colony. The occupations at present carried on include straw plaiting, carpentering, shoemaking, gardening (fruit, vegetables, and flowers), and copying, and excellent work is done. I was particularly struck on my recent visit with the contented looks <tnd respectable appearance of the workpeople. Wherever the men were located they were found busily pursuing their occupations, and they seemed to take a real delight in their work. Only one colonist appeared to be out of place; he, poor fellow, had been a pastor, and the maladroitness of his moveinenta and the discomposure betrayed by his careworn face showed that be felt his position unsuited to his antecedents. All sorts and conditions of men were there. The majority were formerly tradesmen, but there were also teachers, officials, etc. Upon one occasion a lawyer found his way into the all-embracing net of the colony. The food and lodging of a colonist cost 55 pfennig, or G&d'a day, and this the colonist must earn. Any surplus that may he earned is not appropriated by the institution, bnt is kept for the colonist until he leaves for settled occupation. Two-thirds of the colonists earn their keep and an overplus, varying from 35 pfennig to 5, marks weekly, while the remaining third are unable to recoup the institution for its expenditure on their behalf. One industrious workman not long ago left the colony with a purse containing over LlO, the Mehrwerth, which had been put by for him during his stay. Since the colony was opened in 1883, its operations have been greatly extended. The first year was discouraging, for the number of visits was very small. In December, 1884, 17 beds were sufficient for all needs, but now there are 50, and most of them are occupied. At the end of last year the institution ha 4 received 595 colonists, and had given them lodging and food, as well as work for 27,600 days, the average length of residence being 46. days. These 595 colonists included 27(j handicraftsmen, 105 laborers, 8,8 tradesmen, 35 clerks and writers, 15, servants, 11 engineers, 10 apothecaries, 10 waiters, 8 artists, 7 teachers, 5 officials, 4 military, and 2( persons of various grades. Qf tfoe §sl colonists discharged up to the end of 1886, lfijl left because they had found work; 82 their own wish; 84 deserted; 69 were discharged because of idleness, ridicule of religion, transgression of the rules of the institution ; 41 were discharged on account of illness; 40 on account of intemperance; 12 returned to their homes; 10 were imprisoned ; 10 were discharged because of uncleanliness; 9 because of incapacity; and 3 removed to other colonies. Coming now to the financial aspect of the subject, the revenue of the colony is derived from three principal sources—(l) the subscriptions of the members of the organisation by which the institution is maintained; (2) donations, collections, and casual gifts; (3) the sales of goods made by the colonies. Last year the members numbered 1,404 (against 472 in 1885, and 112 in 1884), and their subscriptions amounted to 3,280 marks. Donations, collections, etc., realised 4,180 mai ks. But the bulk of the revenne was obtained from the work of the colonists—namely, 15,031 marks (roughly L 750). The payments made for raw material only (-mounted to 2,725 marks, so that the profits to be realised are very handsome. The year's operations ended with a surplus of over 1,000 marks. Of course, the colony could not pay its way without the help of philanthropic givers, but this is not expected of it, as the institution is essentially a benevolent one. One great feature of the work of the colony is the religious teaching imparted to the inmates. Morning and evening the colonists assemble for prayers, and both by precept and example the inspector and hausvater endeavor to raise the unfortunates from the low condition into which the majority of them have fallen. The discipline is strict, in the sense that implicit obedience is required to all regulations and orders; but it is at the same time friendly, for the colonists are treated as free men rather than paupers, and this makes the yoke of submission light. When I asked Pastor Weber his candid opinion of the results so far achieved, he answered, with complete unreserve, that the workmen's colony was doing a social and moral work of great importance, and such was the opinion forced upon me by careful inspection and searching inquiry.