The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-28
TO PENSION OLD AGE.
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAlN'S PLAN POP
UlAR IN ENGLAND.


Coming Man In Radical Politics The
Leader or the New Democracy.
The mos. bitterl reviled man in Brit
ish politics is Joseph Chamberlain, writes
correspondent Denounced as a rene
gade from his party by the official Lib
erals, as traitor to his principles by the
Radicals. who had looked to him to lead
the new democracy, he is pursued in plat
form and press with reproaches Of scorn
and acrimony, and his 60 or more Lib
eral-Unionist followers in parliament are
made to feel an auimosity such as even
the most blatant Tories seldom arouse.
Mr.. Chambsrlain's programme. or,
more exactly, the programme of the Lib
eral- Unionist party which he practically
formulates. seems, aside from land pur-
chase and allotments, to indicate an effort
to meet the democratic spirit. The two
chief features are. first, the extension of
local government by the creation through
out the kingdom of district and parish
counsels, and secondly, the enactment Of
some plan for State assistance through
old age pensions and life insurance. 1t
is needless to say that the Radicals are
at once and emphatcally opposed to any
plan Of government land purchase or
allotment, but the idea of the extension
Of municipal powers is very popular with
them. There is general feeling in favor
of the idea of old age pensions, but none
of the plans which have been brought
forward elicit any general support.
Mr.. Chamberlain's plan concerning the
latter is that any man or woman shall be
able to go to the postoilice and open an
account either by small payment or by
large payment. This may be added to
as convenient, and remaining at five per
cent compound interest double the
amount which the Government now
allows on ordinary savings bank deposits
shall, when the contributor reaches the
age OF IS, and then only, be with
drawn, in the shape Of fixed annuity
for the rest Of life.
But Joseph Chamberlain does not
move without an army behind him.
/ witnessed one of his methods at
getting at popular feeling. He had
friend very quietly call together
number Of representative men who
might be supposed to take interest
in the question of old age pensions, and,
while carefully refraining from setting
forth his own views, he asked for theirs.
1t was curious picture-thec careful, i'm
passive politician sitting in the center-a
clean shaven, sharp featured man of 55,
with a spare, erect figure, faultlessly
clothed in gray, and wearing gold
trimmed monocle in his right eye-and
before him, in a semi circle, types of
blunt and outspoken men from the
rough and tumble Of life.
Mr.. Chamberlain said the necessity for
doing something was pressing; that none
Of the present means, whether those Of
fered by the government postal savings or
those offered by friendly societies, were
| for some reason or other able to do any
thing worth talking about. The first to
respond were several representatives Of
benevolent organizations having in
surance features, such as the Odd Eel
lows, the Manchester Union, the Heart Of
Oak, which in general conversation are
grouped under the head Of Friendly
Societies. These representatives mani.
tested strong antagonism to the pro-
posed competition Of the government and
what they conceived to be an interference
with their vested interests, going so far
as to say that is subsidies were to come
out Of Of common taxation for the sup
port a government insurance bureau
the Friendly Societies should have the
right to demand the same subsidies, too.
Mr.. Chamberlain showed that he was
prepared for such opposition, but he was
evidently not prepared for the views ex.
pressed by the purely trade union repre-
sentatives-views which are significant
of the education which is going on be-
meath the surface. First, Ben Tillett,
secretary of the London Dock Laborers'
Union, arose and said II don't see what
interest there Is in any such proposal for
men who have hard struggle to get the
barest subsistence; men who can no.
possibly save anything. And yet this IL
the almost universal condition Of the un-
skilled laborers Of this country, men
more than any others subject to the pau
per's lot and the pauper's grave. The
difficulty I see is to get these people to
live until they are 85, or even CO."
Frank Smith, of the Omnibus Union:
II am in favor Of an old age pension by
the State, and believe 1t should be gen.
eral and compulsory. But I believe it
will be impossible to do anything effective
without first giving all men chance to
make a comfortable living. This can be
done only by first opening the land Of
England to the workers; by taxing the
dogs in the manger who are holding it
idle and speculating it. BY this means
the revenue will at the same time be
raised out Of which to give every man
and woman in the realm a pension after
they come of a certain age; not charity
fee which, under whatever name, can be
little better than is afforded by the present
poor law, or pauper law, but a pension
that shall go to every man and woman,
rich or poor, without distinction, after
they have passed a certain age"
Mr. Chamberlain in response said sub.
stantially: None better than l can
u.ruoa;o -, ~, n n font <,f x,o opI oavxy