Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/60

 46 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

caution, and in cases where no other means seem availing. Strikes are lawful as a means of redressing real wrongs, and sometimes, in extreme cases, perhaps necessary ; but they are always regrettable resorts, and the strikers cannot justly use force to prevent other workmen from taking their places.

The Catholic reformers look very favorably upon the system of paying a fixed wage, proportional to the needs of the employes, and supplementing this with a share of the profits in the case of those who, by long and faithful service, or other special merits, have shown themselves worthy to be so rewarded. There are some who strongly advocate the system of factory councils, in which the most responsible and worthy employes meet together at stated intervals to confer with each other and with their employers on matters of common interest. These may even become true legislative bodies, in certain cases and within due limits, for the institutions in which they exist.

As regards interest for the use of money, an amount may justly be charged proportional to the risk of loss, where such exists. When there is no risk of loss, a small amount may justly be charged to indemnify the lender for the disadvantage he suffers from not having the money to use in other business. But it is a crime to charge usurious interest, or to take any inter- est whatever from a needy person, so as to enrich oneself at the expense of the sufferings of one's fellow-men. The establishment of mo7its-de-pi^ti, or pawnshops, conducted from motives of charity, and charging only legal interest (usually from 4 to 6 per cent, per annum), has always been a favorite form of Catholic beneficence, and continues to be recommended and practiced by the representatives of the new movement.

Taxation should be as moderate as possible, and should be levied in such a way as not to crush the weaker industries or to increase the burdens of those who, either from wages or their own little properties, have only a bare means of support. A progressive tax on luxuries is not objected to, nor are moderate succession taxes on collateral heirs.

The Catholic social reformers are inclined to favor sumptuary laws calculated "to check the excess of expenditure out of