ANNOUNCEMENT To the Painting Trade of Greater New York 60 THE UNITED WALL PAPER AND DECORATORS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK has standardized the WILSON REMOVERS which will be handled by them exclusively in this territory. THE WILSON REMOVERS "Lingerwett" and "Wonder-paste" thus receive the highest possible endorsement by this first-class Organization of Painting Contractors. The Association will use only the WILSON REMOVERS on their work in future, a Resolution to that effect having been passed by the Board of Directors after a number of extensive competitive tests. "Lingerwett" and "Wonder-paste" Removers were found more efficient as "cutters" of either Paint or Varnish. Remained Wet-Required Less Remover because of no loss from evaporation and only a small fraction of the manual labor found necessary with others. Neither did the surfaces require washing or sandpapering after the Remover. These advanced features are exclusive to the WILSON, REMOVERS and which were found of the greatest importance, reducing the cost of "stripping" about one-half. THE REASON WHY WILSON REMOVERS WERE ADOPTED IS APPARENT. United Wall Paper and Decorators Association Distributors for Greater New York When man has harnessed lightning to his will, And spanned the ocean's breadth with bows of steel; When he has made the universe his mill, And set the winds to work to drive his wheel; And gathered up the breath of all the flowers; Whom poverty and steel have ground to dust? God! can he do all this? Will there be time? OUR NEW PEONAGE: DISCRETIONARY PENSIONS BY LOUIS D. BRANDEIS ALF a a century ago nearly every American boy could look forward as becoming independent ₩ to farmer or mechanic, in business or in professional life, and nearly every American girl might expect to become the wife of such a man. Today most American boys have reason to believe that throughout life they will work in some capacity as employees of others, either in private or public business, and a large percentage of the women occupy like positions. This revolutionary change has resulted from the great growth of manufacturing and mining as compared with farming; from the formation of trusts and other large business concerns; from the development of our transportation and other public utility corporations; from the marked increase in governmental functions; and, finally, from the invasion of women into industry. As soon as we awakened to the fact that America had become largely a nation of employees, the need of a comprehensive provision for superannuated wage earners secured attention. Given the status of employee for life and the need of an old age pension* is obvious. The employee needs the pension because he cannot-or at least does not provide adequately from his wages for the period of superannuation. The employers need a comprehensive system because, while the presence of the superannuated employees in a business seriously impairs its efficiency, the dictates both of humanity and of policy prevent discharge unless his financial necessities are provided for. The demand for a pension system grows more pressing as businesses grow more stable, for in older businesses there is a constant tendency to accumulate superannuated employees. The demand becomes particularly acute when businesses grow large as well as old, for then it becomes difficult to provide for the individual needs of the abnormal ployee. em As stated by the Massachusetts Commission on Old Age Pensions (January, 1910): *The term pension is used throughout this article In its popular sense as including old age annuities. "The problem of dealing with the aged employee is an urgent one in the modern business world. The use of machinery and the stress of industrial employment have made it increasingly difficult for aged employees to hold the pace. The universal demand nowadays is for young men. Many concerns refuse to take on inexperienced men over thirty-five years of age. Moreover, men wear out faster under the increased strain. What to do with the wornout workers -that is the essence of the pension problem. To carry them on the pay roll at their regular employment means waste and disorganization of the working force; to turn them adrift is not humane. In the past, large employers of labor have tried to meet this difficulty in piecemeal fashion, by retiring aged employees on pensions in certain cases, or giving them light work, each case being provided for separately, on its own merits; now they are beginning to deal with the problem in a sympathetic fashion by adopting a uniform method of retirement with pension. "The motives that have induced large corporate employers to provide retirement pensions are partly economic and partly humanitarian or philanthropic. Economic motives play the leading part. This thing has been done because it has been found to be good business policy. The economic gain from the pension system is twofold; it eliminates the waste and demoralization attendant upon the continued employment of old men who have outlived their usefulness: and it helps to promote industry, contentment and loyalty on the part of the working force." From the point of view of the workIngman the expense of providing old age pensions is a part of the daily cost of living. He should contribute while able to work to a fund which will sustain him when he ceases to earn.' From the point of view of the employer, the expense of providing old age pensions is a part of the current expense of his business. He should pay as he goes the accruing cost of retiring employees who will become superannuated. If the wage is insufficient to enable the workingman to provide himself with a pension, it is not a living wage. So far as the cost of the old age pension is paid by the employer for the employees' benefit, it is in substance a part of the wage. So far as such a payment by the employer is for insurance against that waste and inefficiency in his establishment |