The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-15

to do either Is to humiliate. But the
author holds that great deal OF good can bt
accom- plished by tho States giving the sun
specified to all those who can live without
appealing to the parish. To have lived at al
goes for something. to have asked no RELIEF
| goes for more. and to have secured by Savings
| or through friendly feeling. or the loving
| duty OF children. a chimney corner where five
shillings week will be adequate. may be &C.
copied as proof that the pension Is not III
| bestowed.
The sum required to provide five shillings a
week for all old people. Is large. but not more
than could easily BIO raised II the object were
deemed worth attaining. There Is. however.
as we have said. considerable difference OF
opinion regarding tho results to be expected
from such an expenditure. Tho book before
us was written to meet the objections Of
fered and to prove that the expenditure in
volved In the endowment Of old age
would be justified In the first place Mr.. Booth
advocates his proposal as q cure for pauper-
ism. The existing system OF relief. no matter
how vigorously administered. is acknowledged
to be a failure. Its principles are too fine for
general use. and it's practices are only adapted
to village communities. whore detailed knowl-
edge OF every case Is possible. Withdraw old
ago. however-if 1t be possible. withdraw the
sick also-and the problem Of pauperism at
once becomes mana eenble. At present Eng
land spends $42.5OO.O0O on poor relief. much
OF 1t mschievously. Mr. Booth avers that II
half OF this sum were taken from the rates and
applied to the cost OF pensions. there Is
no Board OF Guardians In the country
which. being relieved OF the burden OF
the aged poor. could not save very largo
NJ xvtkh ~.
upon the character OF tho people. Life
among the poorest might be based on inde-
pendence II their own old age and that OF
those who now hang heavily on them were
secured from want. Chronic pauperism would
DO confined to neer- do-well class. and might
IN tho end be stringently regulated. Such. In
Mr.. Booths belief. is the immediate and bene-
ncent return iairly expected to spring from
that portion OF the pensions which would pass
to those who to-day live In danger Of falling
sooner or later into restitution.
In the second place. 1t is pointed out that tho
interests OF each class are bound UP with those
OF every other class. but most OF all is this true
OF the relation between the bottom fourth"
and the great mass OF the people Just above
them In means-wage earners doing more val
liable work. better paid or more regularly en-
ployed. and makers OF profit on small scale.
Ihese Will be found to benefit very much.
though Indirectly. II the standard OF life below
them is raised. In addition. they will benefit
directly by every shilling OF the cost Of their
pension. Other things are within their
reach and arc every day moro generally
grasped. They subscribe to sick clubs.
they insure their lives. they provide
something Tor rainy day. They organize
trades unions to protect their business inter-
ests; they form themselves into building
societies. and are gradually learning to supply
their moro daily wants By cooperation. But
they do not provide adequately. II at ALL for
old age. The attainment OF old age Is too un-
certain; the principle OF tontine Is disliked:
on any other principle the provision is too
costly The claims OF the present and Of
other persons dependent on them outweigh
the claims OF the future and OF themselves.
Inc failure. however. to provide for old age re-
acts adversely on eVerything else they do
to better themselves. The fell influence
OF tho Poor Law extends to them. They
ioresee that they may at last come to
the workhouse: and this idea' especially as
age draws on and savings are most necessary.
evsrvtbinv else thew comld nrohsh,v nro ads'
and norhans h,vo sorn oth,ns ~ 49,. =, 80;
.nu betaos nave nm 20 70 spare gu
aaro ",te arh,,st"d INV YRS" tha. s sav
-..SAeu
sixty-f1ve. some hospitsble roof would be
found to shelter them II they possessed ave
...,n,. W go" 80. MI. 80, ses'.oeu n'1
shillines week. mus Tor TINS great central
class Of the English population. amounting
perhaps to one.half Of the whole. the pensions
-. T.: ,T D.,, ,i - 49,.
would. in MIR. BOOTHS opinion. prove fruitful
OF blessings.
Asto the interests q, the unner and eo.ca,,ad
.. .;tJ,am - ~ 49, ~ ,a,sasa -, a. Io
middle classes In the welfare OF the lower
" fourth the author acknowledges that this
is sentimental in character and therefore alto.
80, ,.S. ~ 49, ~, ~
gether different from that OF the upper work
ing class. 1t Is rather with tho welfare Of tho
great mass OF tho people that the interests Of
a. - ..;I, -. 49,, ,I,,Is .s.
ene upper anu sun more inc ln'ooie traoins