Socialism and Democracy in EuropeOrth, Samuel Peter
History
Socialism and Democracy in Europe
Orth, Samuel Peter
Democracy; Socialism
Democratization of the Governmental machinery, viz., abolition of the
House of Lords, payment of members of legislative and administrative
bodies, payment of official expenses of elections out of the public
funds, adult suffrage, proportional representation, triennial
parliaments, second ballot, initiative and referendum. Foreigners to
be granted rights of citizenship after two years' residence in the
country, without any fees. Canvassing to be made illegal. All
elections to take place on one day, such day to be made a legal
holiday, and all premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating
liquors to be closed.
Legislation by the people in such wise that no legislative proposal
shall become law until ratified by the majority of the people.
Legislative and administrative independence for all parts of the
Empire.
_Financial and Fiscal_
Repudiation of the National Debt.
Abolition of all indirect taxation and the institution of a cumulative
tax on all incomes and inheritance exceeding £300.
_Administrative_
Extension of the principle of local self-government.
Systematization and co-ordination of the local administrative bodies.
Election of all administrators and administrative bodies by equal
direct adult suffrage.
_Educational_
Elementary education to be free, secular, industrial, and compulsory
for all classes. The age of obligatory school attendance to be raised
to 16.
Unification and systematization of intermediate and higher education,
both general and technical, and all such education to be free.
State maintenance for all attending State schools.
Abolition of school rates; the cost of education in all State schools
to be borne by the National Exchequer.
_Public Monopolies and Services_
Nationalization of the land and the organization of labor in
agriculture and industry under public ownership and control on
co-operative principles.
Nationalization of the trusts.
Nationalization of railways, docks, and canals, and all great means of
transit.
Public ownership and control of gas, electric light, and water
supplies, as well as of tramway, omnibus, and other locomotive
services.
Public ownership and control of the food and coal supply.
The establishment of State and municipal banks and pawnshops and
public restaurants.
Public ownership and control of the lifeboat service.
Public ownership and control of hospitals, dispensaries, cemeteries,
and crematoria.
Public ownership and control of the drink traffic.
_Labor_
A legislative eight-hour working-day, or 48 hours per week, to be the
maximum for all trades and industries. Imprisonment to be indicted on
employers for any infringement of the law.
Absolute freedom of combination for all workers, with legal guarantee
against any action, private or public, which tends to curtail or
infringe it.
No child to be employed in any trade or occupation until 16 years of
age, and imprisonment to be inflicted on employers, parents, and
guardians who infringe this law.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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