The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-20
Compulsory Insurance in Germany.
From the Pull Mall Gazette

FROM UbS UT LhON OSIISttt-
Germany already possesses compulsory
accident and sickness insurance laws for the
working classes, and now the text has been
published of the long-expected measure for
the insurance of work people of all classes
against want through old age or chronic
incapacity. This measure may be regarded
as the most revolutionary of all modern
social measures. 1t applies to some IL, 0O0,-
900 persons. The object is to provide
,gainst incapacity through old age, sickness
and accidents which are not covered by h.
ext ting law. The classes of work people to
which the measure is at present to apply
are tdl persons who are employed as work
people, assistants, journevmen, apprentices,
Or servants for wages or salary; (b) manag-
ing officials, commercial employees and ap-
prenticeS, with the assistants and appren-
tics whose average Y arly earnings do not
exceed 1000 marks; (c) persons belonging
to the crews of German sea going vessels
employed for wages or salary. The Budts-
rath can, however, extend the insurance to
n ependent traleSmen in the house indus
try. Excepted are officials of the empire
and of the Federal States, as well as Off
cials of communal bodies entitled to pen
sion or in receipt of the same to the extent
of 100 marks yearly. The provision TO lie
made for the aged and intirm will take the
form of yearly annuitles. to be paid
in monthly sums, in advance work
man who has completed his SEVENTEEN year
will be entitled to annuity, whether inca
pactated or not, and person will be re-
garded as incapable who can be proved TO
he perlnanently unable to work. Eligibility
for annuity because of old age implies
thirty years contributions, and eligibility
for annuity because of incapacity five years
contributions; but exceptions can be made
| at the option of the insurance authorities
! a wear is to count 300 work days AS TO
the premiums these will be paid in equal
PROPORTIONS by the empire, the employers
! and the insured. 1t will be remembered
| that in former insurance measures the gov
eminent introduced the same principle of
state contributions, but the Reichstag has
| hitherto refused to adopt it. The amount
Of the contributions is to be so fixed that
the administrative costs, the requisite pay
nents to the reserve fund and two-thirds
of the capital value of the charge falling on
the insurance establishment owing annul-
Ties NAV be covered. Each insurance dis
| trict will have uniform rates, females pay
| inc two-thirds as much as males. The an
nnities to be paid to men will be l20 marks
yearly in incapacity, increasing after the
6rSt fifteen wears of contribution four
MARKS for every year of contribution, the
noayinum being $50 marks The an
n,,itv for old age will be 100 mafks Females
will only receive two-thirds as much as
wales The annuity for incapacity will
heoIn the day on viii h such incapacity com
mences. and the annuity for old age on the
FIRST dav of tho list year of the person
insnred' Should persons in receipt of parish
relief be eligible for annuity, the latter will
be paid to the parish giving such relief, so
long as it is continued. The organization
of this vast system of insurance is to be
Nth the administration Of the accident in
| s,IYance law.