Page:The Economic Journal Volume 1.djvu/554

 532 THE ECONOMIC JOURN.rJ right of proposing and rejecting. in the empire, state, province, and tion of taxes with right of refusal. Passing over the general statement of Socialist doctrine, the proposed programme makes the following demands:.. A. For the whole community: (1) Universal equal direct electoral suffrage with secret voting for all free citizens over twenty-one years of age without dis- tinction of sex at all elections. Proportional representation. Elections to be held on Sundays or holidays. Payment of representatives. (2) Direct participation of the people in legislation by the Self-government of the people commune. Annual authoriza- (3) Determination of peace and war by the chosen representa- tives of the people. Creation of international court of arbitration. (4) Repeal of all laws restricting or suppressing the free ex- pression of opinion and the right of association and meeting. (5) Abolition of all application of public money to ecclesiastical and religious purposes. The ecclesiastical and religious com- munities are to be considered as private associations. (6) Secularization of the schools. Conpulsory attendance at public primary schools. Free education and free school-gear in all public educational institutions. (7) Universal military service. Militia instead of standing army. (8) Free administration of justice and free legal help. Ad- ministration of justice by judges elected by the people. (9) Free medical attendance and free medicine. (10) Progressive income, capital, and succession taxes for defray- ing all public expenses as far as taxes can defray them. Abolition of all indirect taxes, duties, and other measures of economic politics which subordinate the interests of the general community to the interest of a privileged minority. B. For the working class: (1) National and international legislation for the protection of the labourer on the following basis: (a) Eight hours the maximum day of labour. (b) Prohibition of industrial labour to children under fourteen years of age. (c) Prohibition of night-work, except in such branches of industry as require it from their nature, or from technical causes, or for any reason of public welfare. (d) A continuous period of repose from labour of at least thirty-six hours in every week for every labourer. (e) Prohibition of the truck system. (2) Supervision of all branches of industry, and regulation of the conditions of labour in town and country by an Imperial Labour Department, provincial labour offices, and chambers of labour.