The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-10-27
OLD AGE PENSIONS.
A Measure Of State Socialism Now
Talked in England.
MIR. Joseph Chamberlain is Still the
Leader of the English. Toilers-State In
surance-England's Paupers,

surance-England's Paupers,
Every English subject has right to end his
days il the poor house, writes Robert P.
Porter. ex-Superintendent of the Census, to
the Chicago Inter Ocean. At the present
time. OF the working classes, one in two, if
he reaches the age of so, is almost certain
to come upon the poor law for his subsis-
tance. The annual cost of this institution
is between $45.000,0OO and 50,00U,0UO. To
the averge mind a sum exceeding by
$l5.000,0O or 100000 900 the annul interest on
our national debt would seem to be sufficient
for maintaining the poor and INDECENT. Not
so. In spite of this enormous outlay the
suffering and poverty as old age creeps OIL
are SO great in the United Kingdom that
the most brilliant and far-seeing statesmen
are studying all available data in the hope
of finding some additional method of State
aid for the old and INDECENT with ,ut still
further pauperizing the population.
In this endeavor find Mr.. Chamberlain
taking an advanced position.
The Did John bright following in Birming-
ham are more strongly attached to Mr..
Chamberlain than ever. They laugh at the
idea of Joseph Chamberlain having gone
owe to the Conservatives, and resent very
much the imputation that he would ac-
cept title or is longing tor the society of
dukes and duchesses. He is as much the
idol of the English working CLASSES as ever,
and they look to him to assist is all meas
ures to alleviate their suffering and i'm
prove their condition. He has already
made three great speeches during the vaca-
ton, and more are 10 follow. These speeche
are directed to the British workmen, and the
0a0ara1 idaa which parvades them, Is hat
Parliament has done enough for the Irish
tenant, and the time has come to help the
English. To pass such legislation as the
old age pension act and generally to extend
state socialism, for that Mr.. Chamberlain
frankly admits is the drift of British polls
tics. He argues the government lis loaning
money OH Irish land to help the poor ten
ant of Ireland against the landlords, why
not go into the annuity business and ren-
sion the victims OF low wages and cheap
goods.
Il find, said Mr.. Chamberlain with great
earnestness. ''tnat while the
BRITISH WAGE-EARNER
realizes the fact that he may die before
the allotted time, and that he may meet with
an accident, or be laid up by illness, he does
not seem to appreciate the fact that he may
live beyond the wage-earning period The
working classes Insure their lives and pay
enormous sums annually into accident and
sick fund associations. 1t is, however.
most dif1cult to get them to provide for old
age. AS consequence one out of two of
the industrial population of this kingdom,
who live to old age, end their days in the
work-house. They deserve better fate 1t
is nonsense to suppose that so per cent of
these old people have done anything to de-
serve the fate which, l regret to say, under
existing circumstances, is inevitably in
store Tor them. To prevent this / propose,
and shall urge. measure which will pro-
vide for a workmans widow and young
children IN case of premature DEATH and an
annuity or pension in case he lives beyond
IS, and thereby outiyes his powers of earn
ing money!
"What are the details of your old-age pen
sion schemei''
The details will in a measure, take care
OF themselves. There are really at the
present two or three propositions, and the
measure may and probably will be sub
jected to various notifications. 1t is brief
ly this:
To the account of every man who when
he is 25 shall have paid So (S24.3 into the
state funds the sum of ELS ($7s 99). The
account SO opened must then be kept alive
by a paymentaof Ell $3.50 each year for
forty years. This payment may be made
in such installments as the depositor finds
convenient, and may be in arrears without
loss of benefit, but it must at no time be
more than e5 s4.33 in arrear, OF all claim
to benefit will be lost. All arrears must be
paid. together with per cent per annum
interest, before benefit can be claimed.
The Whole fund and its Accommodations
will be administered for the benefit of the
depositors, and will entitle them to receive.
81. If they live to s.. pension of shil-
lings tSi.22) week for their remaining
years.
.'2. If they die before IS, la 5 shillings
(S1.22) week for the widow for twenty-six
weeks; (b) shillings t49 cents) week for
each child till II years old (but not to ex-
coed IL shillings 1923 Yin all for the first
twenty-six weeks, and shillings ($l95) a
week afterward); (c) if Eeither widow nor
children are left, the original e5 ($24.33 to
be returned to the depositor's representa-
tives at his death.
- 1t is hoped that the offer to add ELS
tS75.99 to e5 (S24.33 will be found a suffiient
Initial 1nducement, and that then the fear
of losing SO great a stake will bring about
the regular payment of 81 $3.50 each year,
or at least not allow the time of grace to
EXPIRE
Do you think many would avail them
selves of this opportunity at 25 years of age?
Could they make deposit of e5 1924. 49, ~
We have provided for such contingency
1t is also allowable for any man to deposit
9s.lo CSR.l6) in place of (Ss4.33). and to
pay 10 shillings (S2.40 in place of 20 shil-
hngs (S4.S6) each year if he forego the bene-
fit offered to widow and children ur any re-
turn in the event of death Def ore 65, This
is to meet the case of those who do not pro
pose to marry or who prefer to arrange
otherwise for their families
will the proposed plan admit of increase
in amount of PENSIONS
Both males and females may inreasee
their pension to e26 (Sl26.52 Ia year by pro-
portionately additional payments''
Then you include women;''
Yes. The proposition is similar though
On a lower SCALE Every woman before she
reaches rs will be invited to deposit 80 shil-