eurasia(优雷夏)-第11节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
