New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-14
FOR AMERICAN NURSES.
PLANS TO ESTABLISH A PENSION FUND.
TEE SCHEME WORKS WELL IN ENGLAND AND IS


for Nurses established In London four years ago
II reaches class Of dlgent seltsaorifcing workers
who deserve the gratitude and praise Of both sick ana
we'll Until its foundation in England. the thousands
Of nurses and workers among the sick had no Ger
tainty Of passing their old age in comparative freedom
from care. The wages received by the and women
engaged in the pursuit were inadequate; they spent
money freely, and they often ended their lives in
despair. The Institution Of the Royal National Pen
sion Fund, however has changed the condition Of
the nurses because it has opened up opportunities to
save money and provide against future want hereto
fore unknown.
The success attending the fund has led its officers
to consider the edvisability Of establishing similar in
situations on this side Of the water little more
than a week ago Henry @. Burdett, author OF Bur-
dets Official Intelligence" secretary Of the Share and
Loan Department OF the London Stock Exchange and
tho founder Of the fund.- arrived in this city with that
purpose in view He had been asked by Americans
to aid in the establishment Of such fund for the
| benefit Of nurses in the United States Mr.. Burdett
accepted the invitation With alacrity and has been
hard at work since his arrival He has met with
| encouraging success. The time therefore, is prob
ably not far distant when the people of this country
win have earned the gratitude of the American nurses.
friend of the founder, who recently by
Tribune reporter, gave interesting details Of
the scheme and its management al cannot describe
the plans rr America" he said among other things,
better than by describing the British institution for
we hope 30 initiate that as nearly possible. The
Royal National Pension Fund for Nurses, which
| iaaugurated in 1887, Is now established on O per-
manent basis, under the presidency Of the Princess OF
Wales Her Royal Highness has already presented
to moro than 1000 nurses certificates Of membership
b the fund The Of the fund hes been great
1t has already Donation Bonus Fund Of 100000
raised by leading merchants of London, including Lord
Rothschild f. A. Harnbro, II. II. Gibbs and the late
Junius S. Morgan. Mr.. Morgan gave $4,000 to the
fund while the other gave each $4,000. In
addition TO that there also Benevolent Fund named
after Mt Morgan, to which the nurses contributed
s12 900 and Mr. Morgans family, including J. Pier
mont Moran $4,000. TIE remaining invested
funds srnount TO about s25o,0oo, being the payment
made by the nurses.
"Ths object Of the Bonus Fund" continued The
Trlbunes informant, Is to enable the directors TO
grant retiring allowance to the in they
are inoapacitated for work This pension ia at least
81 so week. The object Of the JrInius T. Morgan
Benevolent Fund is 10 provide for those who
experience pecuniary distress difficulty through no
fault Of their own: to help them pay the premiums
on the policies which they have taken out Of the
fund, and to provide for them in other ways"
Although really only few years Old the Royal Ma
tonal Pension Fund for Nurses has issued than
1000 policies, and has invested funds amounting to
more than 100000.
"The management Of the fund has been undertaken
by the leading merchants of London including Walter
Hayes Burns head OF the house Of Drexel, Morgan g.
Co., Alfred de Rottschlld Edward Rollins, Clifford
Wlgham, Thomas Bryant, in America at the present
time; and the representatives Of various training
schools for and of hospitals Mr. Durdett, who
spent fifteen years as an hospital administrator and
the misery to which the nurses were often re-
duced, is the deputy chairman Mr. Burns, sonln-
law OF Mr.. Morgan. the first permanent chairman.
The workers among the sick in Great Britain, there
FORE owe much to the generosity Of Americans"
Mr.. Burdett intends to aid the American fund as
much possible At his request the officers Of the
Mutual Life Insurance Company Of this city have
generously consented to prepare the necessary acay
tables, free Of all cost They will be ready for Mr..
Burdett upon his return from the West In three weeks.
He has already had conferences with DR.. Billings. Of
Washington; George Washington Chds. Of Philadel-
phia, and other who have manifested great in-
terest in the plans"
at is now believed advisable" added the speaker,
10 establish the company under the laws Of this
State and endeavor to induce rich men Of this country
to subscribe at least S25OoOo as security for the
future policy holders II is the general wish that
J. Perpont Morgan become the president Of the Ameri
fund, which will be called probably. the American
National Fund for Nurses. The council of the fund,
according 10 present plans will consist OF two busl
ness men Of this city, with one each from Boston.
Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington. Associated
with kese viii be the directors and representa-
tves Of American training schools for nurses NOM
fund, and representatives Of certain hospitals.
Or. Billings, of the Surgeon Generals Department
Of tie United States Army" continued the speaker ais
organizing series of meetings in each Of these
cities. The meetings will be held during October. |
Mr. Burdett viii make addresses at these gatherings
1t IS estimated that there 5000 trained in
the United States to-day. 1t is hoped and believed
that 100000 Will be subscribed before the meetings
called and that the fund will be established on
basis strong enough to provide for every worker among
the sick in this country. 1t is worthy of note that
the American nurses, owing the fact that they
drawn rule from good society, spend money freely
II would be benevolent act TO provide fund which
would induce them to set aside yearly part Of their
earnings. The fund will be established upon the
mutual system and will enable the policy holders
secure the greatest possible rate Of interest upon
their investments.
=" In England we have also established scheme Of
praise and T Success sns al the u hSS I c
which employ nurses have agreed 10 cooperate with
paying onehalf OF the premiums OF the in their
respective establishments. In this way they are
able 10 rid themselves of all responsibility for the
when ILL., as they are certain that they will be
well cared for. There Is another feature which ought
to be introduced in America l refer TO that of the
TOT the benefit OF the private nurses whose earnings
may not be able to nav regular monthly contributions
nary way. The managers of the fund however re
vate nurses. When the deposits amount to $50 they
are converted into pad-up pension policy for the
amount they will buy at the age Of retirement,
lected by the nurses themselves II a desires
to draw out money, she may do so. If a nurse mar
ries she may continue to pay the premiums and re
e,be her pension. The pension may be disposed OF
also by will.
at will be seem therefore from the few facts men
TONED, that the proposed plan embraces features which
viii meet all the requirements Of nurses. The fund
will tend 10 encourage thrift in England and
to raise the condition OF the largo body Of nurses
All communications in reference 10 the matter
for the present time should be addressed to either
J. Pierpont Morgan DR.. Billings, Of Washington
Bright, crisp, little advertisements, describing in
direct way the varied requirements of a host OF
people, fiji many columns the ninth page of The
Tribune to-day.
MISS HARRIET PULLMAN TO MARRY.
San Francisco Sept. l3.-The engagement is an
her. Of Of |