The Arizona sentinel., 1888-02-11
COMPULSORY INSURANCE.
Salient Point of the WorkinS-Mehs Au
 surance System of Germany

Salient Point of tho WorkihS--"o" Au
 surance System of Germany
 The social agitations of the past two decades have resulted in very gen. eral recognition of the fact that it is matter of public cxpediency that the working classes should come to a state of independent self-support, neither coming upon the State as paupers by reason of disability nor driven into strikes and other disturbances by dis content at the conditions of their la Dor. Out of this recognition have grown the Employers Liability ac ts ot such States as Massachusetts and Con- necticut. and such private efforts to make the financial condition of the working-man less unstable as are found in friendly and provi- dent societies and building as- sociations, and in the efforts made towards the establishment of postal savings banks. Nowhere has the Sub- feet receivel such thorough attention as in Germany, and the system adopt ed by that government demands the study of every one who believes that general improvidence is a menace 10 society, and who hopes to discover some practicable method by which habits of providence may be tostered.
 The acts for the insurance of work men against sickness or accident are among the most important results of the present social policy of Germany. They are six in number, and hinge up on the Employers Liability act which was passed as long ago as 1871. The model upon which legislation is based was found in an association which for centuries has existed in the mining districts all over Germany (being com pulsory in some States), in which miners are insured against sickness. permanent injury and death. The first of the Insurance acts was passed in 1876. and empowered communal authorities to compel workmen within their jurisdiction to form associations for insurance against sickness, and to employers to contribute to the fund up to one-half the amount contributed
 
 elaborate act was passed, compelling all wage-earners whose pay was less than six and two-third marks a day to join one or another form of insurance association, either the communal societies provided for above, or some local provident, friendly, building or other association, and con- peling employers to form such asso- citations for the benefit of apprentices and jOurneymen. The action of each society, of whatever kind, is minutelY regulated; the amount of assessment both upon men and employers is very closely calculated according 10 the de. gree of risk of illness in the various employments; the representation oi both parties in the councils of the so- cieties is strictly provided for, the so' cieties themselves are carefully classi. fled, and the terms of affiliation with kindred societies prescribed; the benefits which are to be re- ceived, medical attendance. medicines, surgical appliances, pensions. are rigidly defined, as are the cases which are entitled to claim these benefits. These include all cases of Hines except those brought about Intentionally by assaults and brawls, by drunkennes, or by other excesses.
 In the following year, 1884, an act was passed providing insurance against accidents, and applying 10 al workingmen and officials with pay less than 2. 900 marks a year The in' surance is also compulsory, and it: provisions are no less rigidly and minutely detailed than those of the foregoing act. An imperial bureau, sitting at Berlin and supported by the empire, has supervisors of this great network of societies, and its decisions in every case are final.
 A further act was passed in 1886 insuring agricultural laborers agains accident and, in certain cases, agains sickness. As the conditions of dan ger do not vary much, these associa lions are limited by geographica lines only. In July of last year al act enrolled men employed il building railroads, and such men em ployed in other forms of building a are not included under the former acts, in single workingmen's asso citation, which extends all over Ger many. A little later an act wa passed bringing sailors and all per sons engaged in shipping under oper atio n of the same law of cOmpulso ry insurance. The next, ant it would seem, the onl. remaining, step, is found il bill now under consideration, pro viding pen sions for laborers in case o old age or disability, the funds to b raised by equal contributions from tn Sate, the employers and the employed who are to be taxed about one pc cent. of their earnings.
 The system is so minute, so careful, tanned and so well balanced, that is well worth the study of all, whethe employers, philanthropists, statesmen or workingmen, who are endeavorins 10 put the laboring classes of thi country upon more stable tinancia footing. -FrGnE Leslie WeeElH