Raudnitz & Pollitz, Hoboken, N. J. Manufacturers of Fancy Leather Goods. The employes of this firm have a sick benefit association, membership in which is limited to men and women employed at the works. The object of the society is to relieve those of the membership who may be incapable of working through either sickness or accident. At present the association has forty-five members (all males) and pays a weekly benefit of five dollars ($5) for a period of twenty-six (26) consecutive weeks, after which payments are optional on the part of the society, but they are always continued in greater or less amounts, according to the necessities of the member as long as disability continues. The dues per member are ten cents ($0.10) per week. Much good has thus far been done by the association in relieving distress resulting from sickness among its members. The firm takes an interest in the beneficial society and helps its work along financially, although the management of its affairs is entirely in the hands of employes. Strikes or other manifestations of dissatisfaction among the employes of this firm have been unknown up to the present time. The Reeves Engine Company, Trenton, N. J. Manufacturers of High-Class Compound, Simple, and Marine Engines. Employs 32 Males. This firm maintains its works in a condition of high order and efficiency, both with regard to effective and profitable operation and the comfort and welfare of its employes. Conveniences for washing at the noon hour and at quitting time, which includes warm water, are provided in ample measure for employes. The plant is provided with a system of heating and ventilating which keeps the buildings in a comfortable and healthful condition at all times. It is the fixed policy of the management to provide the very best conditions possible for its workmen to labor under, because, to quote the firm's own words, "We can get a better grade of men, who are able to do finer work and more of it, by following this course. Our motto is 'Big wages, healthy conditions to work under, and big production.' The premium system, which is a form of profit-sharing, is applied to all work done in the plant. The plan on which it is operated is very simple, and may be briefly described as follows: A certain time is determined as fair to be put on each operation in the production of the various parts that enter into the completed engine or machine; for instance, the turning of a crank-shaft. If the man gets it done in less time than is allowed, he is paid so much an hour for the time he actually worked on the job, and in addition is given his regular wage rate for half the time he has saved in its completion. In other words, a premium is put on his efforts, which enables him to very materially increase his earnings by intelligent and diligent work. The Reeves Engine Company holds membership in an organization known as The Manufacturers and Employers Association of Trenton, N. J. The objects of the association, as set forth in its constitution, are "To uphold the principle of personal liberty, and to assist the duly constituted authorities to enforce the same." "To secure and preserve equitable conditions in the workshops of members, whereby the interests of both employer and employe shall be properly protected." "To investigate and adjust any question arising between members and their employes which may be referred to and come within the jurisdiction of the association." The apparent purpose of the association is to combine all employers together, with a view to dealing with conditions in factories and workshops of the members that may cause discontent among operatives and lead to strikes. The power of the united body of employers is used to compel the cor rection of abuses of which the employes of any of its members may justly complain, and also to protect its members against such attacks on the part of employes as may follow a refusal to comply with unjust and unfair demands on their part. The association is, in fact, a great arbitration body that hears complaints equally from the operatives employed by its members and from these members against their operatives, decides each case on equitable principles, and uses all its power to enforce on the employer or on the body of workmen involved, as the case may be, a strict and faithful submission to its decision. The end sought to be accomplished is the preservation of peace between employer and employe, and the protection of industrial interest from the destructive and demoralizing consequences of strikes and lockouts, and the efforts of the association in this direction have thus far been attended with a very gratifying degree of success. A very interesting and valuable feature of the Manufacturers Association is an employment department, or labor bureau, through which employers who need men and men who need employment are brought together. The main purpose of the labor bureau is to make it easy for the employer to find men who want work, and for men, when they want work, to find an employer. A plain, simple proposition making it possible for men out of work to learn at one place which employers are in need of men, and, by leaving their applications, make it possible for employers to learn at the same place what men want work. It is understood that in all cases employers give first attention to men sent to them from the office of the bureau. If an employe complains to the bureau of unjust or unfair treatment, his statement is investigated and, if found to be correct, the matter of which complaint is made will be corrected. The name of the employe is never divulged. The bureau seeks in every possible way to show both employers and employes that their interests are identical and that the greatest good can be secured for both by uniting their efforts. scription of them that follows is drawn from the company's Cleveland works, which is the oldest plant under its control. The same features of betterment work are now either fully operative in other establishments owned by the company, or are in process of becoming so as rapidly as local circumstances permit their adoption. It will be understood, therefore, that only a part, but still the largest part of the splendid system of betterment work for the benefit of its employes which the Sherwin-Williams Company has instituted, is at the present time in operation in the Newark plant, where business was commenced nearly four years ago. The works are situated on the banks of the Passaic river, the site being as free from objections in the matter of environment as any that can be found in the manufacturing district of a great city. The buildings are large modern structures of brick, in the construction of which every feature necessary to perfect sanitation and ventilation was incorporated. Cleanliness. In the company's own statement of its industrial betterment work, it is made apparent that order and cleanliness is regarded as the basis of all its various forms of co-operative work. In putting it first the ground is taken that the first requisite of good health is to take care of it in the proper place; that is to say, wherever it may be most subject to the danger of impairment. In the works of the Sherwin-Williams Company, cleanliness extends not only to the floors and machinery of the workshops, but to the employes as well, and in order to insure its thorough observance, the factory is provided with a large number of lavatories, shower-baths and lockers, and a plentiful supply of clean towels is furnished from the company's own steam laundry. Employes are encouraged in every way to use the showerbaths and to do so freely; but in the dry-color department, in order to guard against lead poisoning, the frequent use |