San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-19

ism"
JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS.
Economic journal, London, June to Sep
TENDER.
1t is common tor believers in com.
pulsory state insurance in Germany
to say TO all critics: There has not
been time enough yet to judge of the
effect of such insurance: the evidence
is too incomplete This is clearly
true of the law relating to old age
and invalidity. 1t is not true of the
sickness and accident laws. In
these laws there have been admitted
Iy developed weakness, criticism of
some of which may be cleverly par.
ried by making q distinction between
principle and administration. 1t Is
said of such weakness that they are
the fault of the administration OF the
law.
In regard to one Of these weakness.
ses. however, such q defense is very
difficult. That weakness, which I
believe TO be organic, and of very
series nature, Is "playing sick" The
German word is "simulation," differ
ing probably in no essential from
.mslingeflng." except In this, that
the latter word implies more cons
cious purpose. 1t is admitted that
large part of the Stimulating under
the insurance laws is not openly, and
consciously such, but often an in.
stipctive exaggeration of some hurt
or Illness which it may be prudent
for the sufferer to have seem as ser.
ious as possible. Even by the physi-
clans who make light of stimulation,
1T is conceded that the first common
impulse now for the sick or injured
workman is TO overstate his case. The
exaygeration is natural, as he wishes
10 be on the safe side. The amount
of sick or accident pay will depend
upon the degree of his hurt, SO that
such overstatement becomes an al
most inevitable impulse Of self
defense. Quite rs inevitable is il also
that the laoorer will thereafter defend
the account OF his own injuries. ~
said was sick and thought [ was,
and l wasn't going to be driven out
of it by q doctor that didn't know
how l felt,n is from report used by
q specialist to indicate a grave dan
ger in connection with stimulation.
The physician asks the very signifi-
can't question, shall we not get d
real disease where at the start there
was none?" The sick or injured be.
gins with exsggerstion. but he finally
comes to believe in his overstatement,
and thus his unconscious conviction
may lead to q real weakness.
am quite aware that this sounds
fantastic, but that it stands Tor q
threatening fact, no one who has read
the literature of simulation-now
quite extensivs-will for q moment
doubt.
IL was a supreme end of these laws
{" streng hten the weak. II it should
be found that the Laws so work as
not to reach this end, it must be ad.
United that, to such extent at least,
they fail. One of the most widely
known writer's upon these laws said
TO me, "If we can't learn practically
control within due bounds this simu-
lation, should admit that the legis-
latiOn has failed" In September q
special meeting for the discussion of
the subject it to be held at Goerlitz.
1t will be seen that the relation b g.
tween this compulsory legislation,
and the character OF the weaker Ia
hOrer, is very direct. 1t is clean, too
that any form of legislation which
widens the margin of the weak is OF
most questionable sort. Nothing
seems now of such pressing need as
any and every influence which may
strengthen the social chain precisely
at the weakest link, and that too. for
the sake of all the other links, even
more than for the weaker one. 1t is
equally clear that in any adequate
discussion of socialism the distinctive
psychological element must have q
new Importance. More and more it
appears that certain forms of sociaIis-
tic Legislation depend for their success
upon the sort of man with whom we
have to deal. Almost every phase Of
socialistic philosophy assumes noble
capacity in average human nature to
act, upon the whole, from higher
motives than now obtain in a society
based so largely upon narrow self
interest.
An authority upon these laws has
just said, II never would have be.
lieved that would play sick to get so
wretched a pittsnce as the sick fund
allows" / asked him whether If he
had known 1t, that would have made
any difference in his attitude toward
the legislation? He replied, 81 should
have gone much more slowly, and
now shall oppose any extension OF
the law until we know more and
better what the less vigorous among
the laborers can stand.n
This is nicely to the point, as II
illustrates the fact that such legisla.
ton must succeed or fail as it reckone
accurately with human nature.
Or. L. v. WERTHERS
Makes a speciality of acute and chronic