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Show MARKS BIG' ADVANCE SIGNIFICANCE OF TREATY MADE IN EUROPE. Worklngmen of France and Italy Alike Benefited by Remarkable Agreement Agree-ment Drawn Up Solely In Interests of Labor. An International treaty that Is far inoro slgnltlcant of the spirit of the twentieth century than any trrnty that has been negotiated of recent jenrs ns that which wns quietly concluded list jeur between France anil Italy In 'he special Interests of labor. This treat has not miiilu much noise In the Aorld, but It Is iieortheless a most jlgnillcant document. April 15, 1901, Frnuc-o nnd Hal) en-tored en-tored Into an .mreenicnt for the protection pro-tection of worklnijnion. For some years Franco lui been urging the adoption, In nelgliiioilng countries, of such legislation as should raise condl tlons of omplojmcnt more nearly to tho Htandnrd existing In Fiance, and thereby lessen tho dUisliuus effects upon Fiench Industries, of competition competi-tion with countries wheie labor legis lation is less advanced, and where, In particular, the number of hours constituting con-stituting n day's work Is greater than In France and hut slight restrictions aro placed upon the employment of women and children. It was a bold, humanitarian move, and something comparatively now In International affairs, this introduction of labor problems from the broad standpoint of the commeiclal nnd Industrial In-dustrial relations of nations toward each other, and It puts France In the vanguard ot the nations-as fnr ns hu-, manltnrlanlsm Is concerned Tho ugreement between Italy nnd Franco gives to each party the protection protec-tion most desired. Ily obtaining from Italy tho assurance, of reform In Inbor legislation and of effective labor Inspection In-spection and enforcement of laws, es-' pecialfy those affecting women and children, France has guaranteed protection pro-tection to Its Industries; while by the agreement the 200,0011 or more Italians In Franco are granted tho benefits of tho French laws on Insurance and savings. sav-ings. Uy the terms of tho agreement Italian Ital-ian worklngmen will receive tho benefits bene-fits of the iiostnl savings system ot Finnce, and French worklngmen In Italy those of thu Italian postal savings sav-ings banks. The two governments tlirnugli the medium ot tho postal departments, de-partments, as well as the nntlonnl banks, shall facilitate the depositing ot assessments of Italians residing In Franco In the National provident fund of Italy, and of Frenchmen residing In Italy In the National retirement pension pen-sion fund of France. They shall facilitate also tho payment pay-ment In France of pensions ncq"lred, cither by Italians of Frenchma i, In the Italian national fund, and- vlco. veisa. Arrangements are also lo be made for the admission of Italian ' worklngmen in France to the benefits of the French old-ugo pensions nnd dls-' ability. Italy Is to take similar steps. For persons who have worked con-i tlniiously In the two countries during i u minimum period, to be determined , without fulfilling In either country the! conditions required to entitle them t'o worktnginen's pensions, the two gov- ernments shall work out a special system sys-tem for the acquiilng of retirement i pensions. ' Worklngmen ot Italian nationality, victims. In France, of accidents re-' suiting from their employment, as well ' as their heirs and assigns In France, i shall be entitled to the same Indemnl-' ties as Frenchmen, nnd vice versa. Provisions are also made for assistance assist-ance In cases of unemployment. Tho I Italian government alio guarantees the organization of i service of In-' spectlou for the application of the laws : governing lnlxir. Tieso Inspectors! h'lull cause the laws relative to the employment of women and children to be more btr'ctly observed, and uotati:-, the piovlslons of the laws concerning, the prohlb'tlon of night work; age of admission to employment In Industrial i stiibllshments: dally hours of labor, and the obllgn'ory allowance of one dnj u week for rest The Italian government, gov-ernment, inoreo er, declares Its Intention Inten-tion of studying mid gradually effecting effect-ing the reduction of tho working day foi women On July 0. 1004. a law wns passed In Italy giving fml effect to tho pro- visions of this treaty. |