2. Alteration of the mode of work; as the substitution of day-work for
piece-work, as a means of decreasing the stimulus to overwork.
3. Extension of the term of hiring; by the substitution of annual
engagements for daily or weekly hirings, with a view to the prevention
of “casual labour.”
4. Limitation of the number of hands employed by one capitalist; so as
to prevent the undue extension of “the large system of production.”
5. Taxation of machinery; with the object, not only of making it
contribute its quota to the revenue of the country, but of impeding
its undue increase.
6. The discountenance of every form of work that tends to the making
up of a greater quantity of materials with a less quantity of
labour; and consequently to the expenditure of a greater proportion
of the capital of the country on machinery or materials, and a
correspondingly less proportion on the labourers.
E. _“Protective imposts,” or high import duties on such foreign
commodities as can be produced in this country_; with the view of
preventing the labour of the comparatively untaxed and uncivilized
foreigner being brought into competition with that of the taxed and
civilized producer at home.
F. _“Financial reform,” or reduction of the taxation of the country_;
as enabling the home labourer the better to compete with the foreigner.
The two latter proposals, and that of the extension of the markets, may
be said to seek to remedy low wages by expanding or circumscribing the
foreign trade of the country.
G. _A different division of the proceeds of labour._ For this object
several schemes have been propounded:--
1. The “tribute system” of wages; or payment of labour according to
the additional value which it confers on the materials on which it
operates.
2. The abolition of the middleman; whether “sweater,” “piece-master,”
“lumper,” or what not, coming between the employer and employed.
3. Co-operation; or joint-stock associations of labourers, with the
view of abolishing the profit of the capitalist employer.
H. _A different mode of distributing the products of labour_; with the
view of abolishing the profit of the dealer, between the producer and
consumer--as co-operative stores, where the consumers club together for
the purchase of their goods directly of the producers.
I. _A more general and equal division of the wealth of the country_:
for attaining this end there are but two known means:--