Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-30
INSURANCE IN GERNANY.
~ isTo he Made CumpuIsory-Six Different
Kinds of Bcueht FUNDS Recognized bv Law.

WIZ w hdiihnA ~UVIi outline OI ~,
scope. which is. broadly speaking, the
making Insurance against illness a compul
| sOTy matter, not only on the part OF tn,
working class proper, but OF much more
extended section OF the Industrial commit
nifty than has hitherto been included
II must be remembered that the principle
OF obligatory insurance is not new in th,
German empire, or at all events in several
parts OF II, for il has been acted on more OF
less both in Prussia and Bavaria. II was
left 10 the cOmmuneS 10 carry out. but "a
much latitude was allowed fiat IL became
in practice a Kind Of local option. and was
generally more hOnOred in the breach than
in the Observance. In the future. however.
the case is 10 he different, and the COM
munes VIII Doubtless acquiesee all the more
readily in the Obligation, inaSmuch a. one
OF the powerful effects OF the legislation
Will he 10 diminish the calls upon public
assistance. or. in other words. 10 keep
down pauperism. II will be, there
fore, ~ much TO the interest as
il will be the duty Of the communal
authorities 10 see that the new law is pro-
perly carried ont. The compulsory in
surance OF miners against accident and
sickness has been an industrial feature IN
Prussia and SaXOny for long time past.
and since 1854 has been regulated by an
ordinance that every one working under
ground should become member Of the
Miners Benefit Fund (hnappSchaftsu
reiRe). An industrial law was passed In
Prussia in ls49, by virtue OF which the
workmcn OF any particular locality could
be compelled 10 become members OF ex-
istlng benefit societies. and in 1854 this
was made little more stringent, nasmuch
as II became obligatory on the workmen
10 form mutual societies among themselves.
In South Germany the commune had
the right Of levying a regular contribution
from the wOrkmen 10 the benefit fund,
while in Bavaria all servants, apprentices,
wOrkmen, and day-labOrers had the right,
when away from their legal dOmicie. TO
seek relief for the period Of ninety days,
which relief the commune was bound 10
give. In return the commune cdlld en-
force weekly contribution OF Is pfenrige
although previous to 1875 IL was only .
Tfennige). This relief being in no way con-
nected with the ordinary poOr-law relief for
paupers. BY the law OF 1876 the communes
throughout the empire were given the
power Of compelling all wOrkmen under
sixteen years Of age 10 become mem.
bcrs Of the communal benefit So
ciety; hut in consequence OF che small
amount OF srdor that was shown IN the
matter, and the general sOclaliste agitation
that prevailed about this time, the Govern
ment determined TO re.irrange the whole
system, and TO close considerable number
Of the existing societies. At that time
QSS0) there were in Germany 1901 regis
tered benefit funds, with S30.602 members
participating in the same. TO these must
be added 100000 members in non.regiStered
societies, and 100000 belonging to the
knappschaftsyeroine or miners benefit
funds, making altogether about 1850, 900
persons syailing themselves Of sick insu-
rance, Of whom 100000 were working.
men.
The new law. which is 90 shortly TO come
into operation. distinguishes two categories
OF insurers. First. those who are Obliged
by the laws OF the land TO insure; second.
those who come within the scope a. the
authority. The first embraces
all persons permanently engaged in manu-
features, trades, and commerce, including
employees OF the lower grades. who, from
ne smallne-s Of their salary, are little il
any better off than the actual wOrkmgman.
In the second category are the small mas
tiers and those who work at home for the
large firms, as also those who are cm-
plOycd on trlmways and in hauling.
agricultural labOreTs and fOresteIs. and.
in fine, all those who are working
nn daily wages. The law recognizes six
different kinds Of benefit funds-yiz.: /.
The local fund. which embraces one or
more kinds Of industry, and can. II pre-
Icrred. De established 10y several commune.
ictIne together. >. The factory fund.
;. The public.worlls and building fund.
y hich i Of more or less temporary ma
uTe. 4. The guild funds. ,. The mine
unds. &. The funds Of previously regis
cred and recognized societies: and 10 these
nay be added the communal fund. which
: generally established rs piS after.
When there j. none other 90 fail back
IpOn. Communal insurance j.. in fact.
MY applied tO those eases which have
10 claim upon other funds. and employer, +
re not obliged 10 contribute toward il. .
lthough they have 10 do 80 when there j. /
local. factory. or building fund. II /
nay be. therefore. easily understood that /
he communal fund is less in favor than any
ther. ~ it j. more costly in it, adminstra-
ion. and assumes the form OF a local TAX,
which i never very popular. whereas the
Deal funds are ncces >arlly largely sup
'Orted by both employers and employed.
he latter Of whom have a prepondering
Oicr at the general meetings. For this
pccIal reason. indeed. the local fund l.
more liked than the factory iuLd. wheFe
he employer has the largest voice in the
though il is only fair that he
hould have, seeing that he has the trouble
I keeping the accounts, aud has the re-
pon>imlily of making any temporary
dNanccs il the fund at the time 1,
ot al sufficiently high water. More
ycT. when workman enters 4 factory
und he must give mp the local fund u
which he formerly belonged. and thus i
bligod to change biz benefit fund Is often
: he changes hls employer, which i not
eldOm. The amount OF subscription To
he local fund il fixed by law at two per
ent. Of the average daily wage. and must
OF exceed three per cent in ease the Tor
leT il not sufficient 10 cover the expenses
I the relief. Even tnis latter increase can
OF be- undertaken without the consent Of
9th master and wOrkmen. As 4 general !
ule. the local fund must be organized for
ersons occupied in the same branch OF ia-
ustry, hut when this number i below one
undred, local communal fund may unite
ther branches Of trade in the same
rganiZation. In case OF sickness the re-
II furnished by the local fund con-
ISIS Of graiuitOus medical attendance.
andages. aud all necessary medicines ana
ppiances, while. after the third daN 4
lOncy allowance i given equal 90 hall the
ally average wage. ~ long as II does not
xceed three shillmgs. for thirteen wcchs.
lmilar help Is given 10 women Tor ihrec
ionthS during confinement and in a.
death 4 burial allowance j. nIde'
To twenty times the average
ally wage Of the locality. In exceptional
circumstances the benefit OF the l0cli iund
lay be extended. but In no case can u pr
mploycd for any purpose outside the lllnd'
lch a. chronic inyalids. widows, or or
hans. When necessary, the sick person
Jay be placed IN hospital instead %
ciDg treated at home, and lu thi'
lsc his family receive money AZ a.
,wancc for their maintenance. We
ay mention the city Of Frankfort-On-M uh
an instance OF place in which Oblls"'
~ insurance mot communalI is IN organ, .
ed system. II has 10000 inhabitants 81
HON !, ,l2G are employees, q .s2l are work
pople, and to these may be added >oih'
1881 domestics. At the present tnir
lere arc Is benefit insurance funds WIN
943 members; for those who would come
nder the second category-yiZ., employee J
C., there is only one fund with 10 nleih-
FRS. There are 10 mines or miners III 'h' :
and no guilds eNcepi w.
'lODgiDg 10 the chimney-sweeps WIZ VIZ" |
members. and BARRIERS with I,9. VI 'nc !
iisting funds II are factory and worAShoP !
nds. with l,62l members. and IL !, ctr
mt that the position OF the whole ol III, l