St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-04
COMPULSORY INSURANCE.
Salient Point of the Working Mems In.
surance System of Germany.

decades have resulted in very gen.
81 Il recognition of the fact that it is
matter Of public expediency that the
working classes should come to 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 acts of
such States as Massachusetts, and Con-
necicut and such private efforts to
make the financial condition of the
working-mau less unstable as are
found in friendly and proyi-
dent societies and building as
soclations, and in the efforts made
towards the establishment of postal
savings banks. Nowhere has the sub
jcct received 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 menace to
society. and who hopes to discover
some practicable method by which
habits of providence may be fostered.
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 ups
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
by the Workmen. In 1883 more
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 associ alton, either the
communal societies provided for above,
or some local provident. friendly,
building or other association, and COM
peling employers to form such asso-
Citations for the benefit of apprentices
and iourneymen. The action of each
society, of whatever kind, is infinitely
regulated; the amount of assessment
both upon men and employers is very
closely calculated according to the de-
gree of risk of illness in the various
employments; the representation OF
both parties in the councils of the So
cieties is strictly provided for, the so.
cieties themselves are carefully classi.
fed, and the terms of aft liation with
kindred societies prescribed; the
benefits which are to be re.
ceived, medical attendance, medicines,
surgical appliances, pensions are
rigidly defined, as are the eases which |
are entitled to claim these benefits
These include all cases of Hines ex cept |
those brought about intentionally by |
assaults and braWls, by drunkenness.
or BY other excuses.
In the following year, 1884, an act |
was passed providing insurance
against accidents, and applying 10 all I
and officials with pay
less than 2 600 marks q year The in
surance is also compulsory, and its
provisions are no less rigidly and
detailed than those Of the
act An imperial burea an,
sitting at Berlin and supported by the
empire. has supervisors Of this great
network of societies, and its decisions
lni every case are final. s.
a further act was passed in 1886.
Insliring agricultural laborers against
accident and. III certain cases, against
sickness. As The conditions Of dan
ger do not vary much, these associa-
ions are limited by geographical
ines only. In July of last year an
sct enrolled men employed in
railroads. and such men en-
9loyed In other forms Of building as
ne. not included under the former
lets, in a single working mems asso-
iation, which extends all over Ger
many. A little later an act was
,assed bringing sailors and all per-
ons engaged in shipping under oper-
,tion of the same law of compplso-
y insurance. The next, and
would seem. the only
EN- airing, step, is found in
bill now under consideration, pro-
iding pensions for laborers in case of
Id age OF disability, the funds to be
aised BY equal contributions from the
tate. theemployers and the employed.
tho are to be taxed about one per
emf. of their earnings.
The system lis so minute. so carefully
Tanned and 50 well balanced, that il
we'll worth the study OF all. whether
Employers. phipanthropists. statesmen
i workingnen. who are endeavoring
, put the laboring classes of this ,
ountry upon d more stable financial
voting. Fr0,as Leslie Weekly. II