The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-25
COMPULSORY INSURANCE.

Germany proposes another step for
ward in its paternalism. For long
time there has been a system OF gov
eminent insurance. applicable, no.
ever. only to the victims - accidents
and slcFF-,sss. 1t is compulsory, and
all persons must contribute to the fund
which is managed by the imperial
authority. A new bill has just been
introduced in the Reichstag which
provides for compulsory insurance by
all working people, the proposed law
applying to some 100000 persons.
The object is to provide against want
in old age and chronic incapacity.
The premium to be paid will have
the form of annuities paid
monthly il advance. On
passing the age of seventY-two years,
whether incapacitated or not, the
workman will receive an annuity;
though he must have contributed to the
fund thirty years. To entitle the
workman to an annuity for incapacity
he must have contributed five
years. The maximum annuity for
old age will be about $50, and the pay
ments do not vary; the highest
amount allowed for incapacity is $50 a
year, and the payments cease when the
insured RECEIVERS his ability TO earn a
living. The payments for insurance are to
be derived from three sources, the en-
pire, the employers an6 the assured,
and the tax is obligatory, as other
taxes, being payable 10 the govern
ment.
This is state paternaIism carried TO
an advanced point, exercising watch
fulness and care over the individual
which few governments would attempt |
to assume. 1t is based On the belief, |
which is undoubtedly correct, that the |
laborer is incapable of managing bis |
own affairs in such way as to provide |
against want in age and sickness. |
It assumes that the individual is not |
his master as 10 his own, but is the
property or child of the state which |
must look out for him, and at the same
time protect itself against the subject |
becoming burden. Undoubtedly the |
law will work well. 1t will compel |
thriftless working people to lay aside
sufficient of their earnings to provide
for their necessities when their ability
to earn has departed.
But how would the free American
like it were the state to take |
charge of his affairs in this
manner2 Not very well, We imagine.
Just what his opinion Of such pro-
ceeding is has recentlybeen illustrated in
Maryland, in a small way. The Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad Company had
an aid association to which all en-
ployees were required to contribute a
percentage of their earnings; the
money was invested by the company
as an insurance fund for the benefit of
the workingmen. For q long time there
has been discomfort among the labor
ers, many of whom felt that 1t was
an interference with their rights to
withhold any portion of their wages.
even though they derived the benefit
from the money. A little while ago a
numerously signed petition went to the
legislature praying for the disincorpo-
ration of the association and the wind
ing up of its affairs, and bill in COM
pliance with that petition HIS been
passed.
Only in strong centralized govern
meut like Germany. where the individ-
ual is dwarfed and the state enlarged
in its power, could such a system as
Bismarck lately presented be adopted.
The majority of men believe not only
that they have the inherent right to
control and manage their own, but that
they can control and manage it for
their good better than anybody else.
GOING TO PIECES.