generous custom which prevails in this factory is giving all employes a vacation during the year, with full pay. The workmen are allowed one week, and salaried officers two weeks. All are allowed full pay for the following holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Washington's Birthday, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

The very best of feeling exists between these workmen. and the firm, and no strike or disturbance of any kind has ever occurred among them.

The Baker Printing Company, Newark, N. J.

Printers and Bookbinders.
Employs 85 Males and 15 Females.

The Baker Printing Company occupies a large building which was erected for the business, and in the construction of which light, perfect sanitation and ventilation were aimed at and secured. The business was begun by the proprietor, in the year 1885, in the smallest possible way, and is to-day the largest in its line in the city of Newark.

As a result of the loyalty and energy displayed by some of the employes, the proprietor decided, in 1898, to have the business incorporated with a capital of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), and permitted the employes to subscribe for the stock. The plant at the present time contains seventyfour thousand dollars' ($74,000) worth of machinery, while the subscriptions to stock amount to only twenty-two thousand dollars ($22,000). The undivided profits on the first of January, 1904, were forty-one thousand six hundred and eighty-two dollars ($41,682), and the dividend on stock for 1903 was eight (8) per cent. The stock is sold to employes at par.

The ratio of stockholding employes to the total number of persons employed for the six years that have elapsed since the business was incorporated is as follows:

As a result of the enlightened and generous policy pursued by the founder, the business of the Baker Printing Company is growing toward a realization of the highest ideal form of co-operative business management, under which the workmen will be their own employers. It will be noticed by examining the above table that the percentage of stock-owning employes in 1904 is just double what it was in 1899, the first year the plan was put in operation.

A congenial condition of affairs exists in all departments, notwithstanding the fact that the composing-room employs men affiliated with a labor union.

The Board of Directors of the Company decided, several years ago, that, as the stockholders were owners of the business, it was not necessary for them to join new unions as they came up. The only union in existence at the works at the time of the incorporation of the company was a local of the National Typographical Union, whose members are still employed in the composing-room.

Julius Brandes Manufacturing Company, Paterson, N. J.

Manufacturers of Silk Ribbons, Bindings, etc.
Employs 310 Males and 172 Females.

Under the encouraging auspices of this company, its employes have created a Benevolent Circle for the relief of those who become sick or disabled while in the firm's employ.

Membership is strictly limited to employes, and the number of those who are connected with the circle is (March, 1904) two hundred and thirty-three (233), or about seventy-five (75) per cent. of the total number of male employes.

Members pay ten (10) cents per week as dues, and the firm makes a contribution annually to the funds of the Circle, the amount of which is based on the number of members.

The sick or disability benefit paid is six dollars ($6) per week for thirteen consecutive weeks, and longer, if, on medical authority and a knowledge of the financial circumstances of the member, the case seems to warrant and require it. The firm contributes annually two dollars ($2) per member in good standing, until the aggregate amounts to a fund of one thousand dollars ($1,000), which must be held as a reserve and used in emergency cases, such as epidemics, etc., only.

No provision has as yet been made for the death of members, but the matter is now under consideration by the Board of Directors.

The firm unqualifiedly expresses the belief that this benevolent society exercises a good, wholesome influence on the general conduct of the employes, in so far that, having an interest at stake, however small it may be, they are more apt to listen to reason themselves and to influence others in the same way. The firm makes no attempt whatever to guide their workmen's actions, except in the matter of the reserve fund.

Bressler Brothers, Bayonne, N. J.

Manufacturers of Clothing.

Employ 65 Males and 20 Females.

The employes of this firm have organized among themselves a society which pays five dollars ($5) per week to sick members for a period of fifteen weeks' illness, and defrays the cost of burial in case of death.

The finances of the society are provided and managed exclusively by the employes.

Brighton Mills, Passaic, N. J.

Manufacturers of Cotton and Special Fabrics.
Employ 115 Males and 120 Females.

The management of this company reports that it is now planning to introduce certain improved methods of payment of wages, which will be, in effect, profit-sharing, but in what they regard as a very much improved form. It is also intended to encourage the making of suggestions relating to the work by employes, by offering a liberal bonus for such as may be practical and result in improvement to the business. It is expected that the system will be ready to put in full operation during the spring of 1904.

The Camden and Philadelphia Soap Company,
Camden, N. J.

Manufacturers of Laundry Supplies.
Employs 20 Males and 5 Females.

No organized form of betterment or benefit institution is maintained by either this firm or its employes. The broad-minded and generous policy pursued by the company in everything relating to the well-being of its employes fills

the place and does the work of such associations very thoroughly, and that without cost to its workmen.

Without ostentation of any kind, but in an entirely modest way, as though there were nothing uncommon in the course pursued by them, it is stated by the company that they "have been in the habit of taking care of employes at all times; during dull seasons and sickness they have never lost financially, being always on the pay-roll, sick or well, work or play."

"The results are, we have never had any trouble between ourselves and our employes, who are and always have been faithful and remain with us. We have employes who have been with us for the past twenty-seven years. Under these circumstances, neither our employes or ourselves have ever felt the need of any form of organization."

Carter, Howe & Company, Newark, N. J.

Manufacturers of Fine Jewelry.

Employs 149 Males and 78 Females.

The factory building of Carter, Howe & Company has a thoroughly modern system of ventilation by means of exhaust fans.

It is also supplied with drinking water from a driven well, direct pipes from which, with faucets, are on each floor. The water, which is used for drinking purposes only, has been analyzed, and pronounced wholesome and good. Thus, breathing untainted air and drinking perfectly pure water of even temperature the year round, there is not the former craving for stimulants, and but little trouble has occurred from excessive drinking on the part of employes. By these means the firm has brought about what it regards as a condition of practical temperance.

Because of the value of gold on the work-benches, employes are not allowed to remain in the factory during the noon hour; so, for the convenience of those who cannot go