Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/571

 NOTES AND ABSTRA CTS 557

people, furnishes valuable statistics as to the number of accidents in various industries, their causes and means of prevention, which may be applied in the solution of the question for other countries. With a view, not only to the protection and security of workmen, but also to the protection of employers against the uncertainty of judicial deci- sions, and the public against the loss or incapacity of its members, the following general plan is proposed for France : (l) The use of steam or of machinery for the transmission of mechanical or electrical force shall oblige the employer and the employe* in such business to become members of associations for the prevention of accidents. Such membership shall free the employer from criminal prosecution in case of accident, unless he fails to submit to inspection by one of these associations, or is expelled, or allows his employe's to work more than six days in seven. The inspectors of these associations shall act under the control of state engineers and inspectors. (2) Every accident occurring in the course of work ordered gives right to an indemnity, of which the nature and importance shall be determined after examination of the actual circumstances of the victim such indemnity to be withheld if the workmen shall have infringed the posted rules of the employer or the protective association, or shall have worked in a state of intoxication. (3) Employers must insure workmen against the results of accident and must guarantee them the indemnities provided by law. Employers may, however, either substitute for their responsibility that of authorized insurance companies by the payment of the required premiums, or they may syndicate their common risks, or they may remain their own insurers. The management of insurance companies shall be under the inspection of the government inspectors of finance. Syndicates of employers shall guarantee their solvency by at least two bonds, and such guarantee shall be renewed at fixed periods. (4) In every case of accident, where the victim seems incapacitated for work for a period of more than a fortnight, an investigation shall be held as soon as possible in the place of the accident, and the findings shall be signed by the witnesses and a representative of the employer. This shall be transmitted to a justice of the peace, who shall regulate the indemnity, subject always to the right of appeal of either party. Every accident giving right to indemnity, in case the accident results in incapacity for less than a fort- night, the laborer may summon his employer before a justice of the peace, if he does not receive from his employer the recompense allotted by law. AUGUSTIN BLANCHET, La Reforme sociale (two articles), 1 6 Octobre et I Novembre 1897.

The Administration of Prussian Railroads. Study of a foreign system of railroads aids us in gaining a more accurate knowledge of railroad enterprises. It reveals tendencies which are inherent in the business and those which are distinctly due to administration.

"Prussia began with general, our states with special, legislation. Prussian theory placed railroads in one category and ordinary businesses in another. We have, until very recently, insisted on their essential similarity. Prussian railroad history establishes the soundness of the first and the fallacy of the second theory."

Economic and social conditions show marked tendencies towards cosmopoli- tanism. A universality rather than nationality of conditions is the safer hypothesis under our present industrial regime. Differences in conditions, however, cannot be entirely ignored.

"All Prussian railroads, whether state or private, are subject to the jurisdiction of a carefully graded administrative system local, intermediate, and central each part of which is connected with every other part in such a manner that, without inter- fering with the ability to act promptly in cases of emergency, every act not only finds its responsible agent, but the central organ can also make its influence felt in the remotest branch of the system, and at the same time not transcend its responsibility to the public."

From a general law as a nucleus, Prussia has developed two distinct groups of railway administrative organs, each representing distinct sets of interests, yet both working cooperatively. One group of organs represents railroad interests in particu- lar and takes the railroad point of view. In this group we find the minister of public works, the railroad secretaries, the general conference and tariff commission.