The Indianapolis journal., 1896-09-20
INSURED AGAINST IDLENESS.
Paternmlism Illustrated in Queer
Way by the Swiss Government.


A species of insurance against the ma
terial consequences of want of work is eff
fected in England by many voluntary trade
organizations. Owing in some measure to
the failure in Switzerland of trade union
ism. and also TO the remarkable develop
endeavoring to compass the end by
the aid of legislative measures.
Optional insurance against loss of work
Enthusiastically is offered to it's settled
laboring classes by the municipality of
Berne; Basic proposes to introduce an OBJ
Hgatory system shorty the compglsion is
The cantonal law the subject came into
operation in June, 1894, but St. Gall is the
only town in the canton which has yet eX-
perimented with it.
By virtue of this unique law the Mu-
manages. an industrial insurance fund,
(Versichrungskasse), to which all male
wage earners resident in st. Gall whose av-
erage earnings do not exceed five francs
daily are bound TO belong, while better paid
workers join or not, they please.
Apprentices and laborers under age in
ceipt of less than two trans daily are ex-
empt, while women may be allowed or re-
quired to join according to circumstances.
Persons already belonging to a voluntary
insurance organization are relieved of the
obligation to join.
The premiums are regulated as follows:
A. where daily wages do not exceed 3f. 15c.;
B, where such wages do not exceed 4f.,
zoe, and C, where they do not exceed 5f.,
soc. The sums paid to those out of work
are. In Class A, If. 3Oc per day: Class B,
Of 10c.; Glass C, 2f 40c. This money has
to be fetched by the insured at the end of
the week. though he must show himself
once a day. Relief is only granted for ten
weeks (siXty days. in any one year, and it
is withheld altogether when the insured is
without work owing to fault of his own
0hiS includes Strikes), and when. being
able-bodied, he declines to accept work
suited to his position and capacities when
it is offered. A labor bureau is connected
with the insurance fund.
The working classes of St. Gall have not
in general taken kindly to this fatherly
concern for their welfare, and compliance
be not cheerful but grudging. Evasion was
anticipated by provision which threatens
with a fine and even in bad cases with
Imprisonment, such workingrnen as neglect
to paw their premiums after being once
warned. With a revenue from premiums
that is small when compared with the calls
made upon it, especially in winter, the in
surance fund has to rely to some extent
upon auxiliary sources of income, the chief
being annual municipal grant in aid.
During the first six months operation of
the insurance fund July l to Dec. 81
1880 3430 persons were registered on the
books of whom 1,67S were married
and 1866 single. They represented no fewer
than ninety-nine trades and occupations,
2412 of them were in receipt of wages not
exceeding 81. a day; 920 received from ST. to
4f.; only 9S received from 4f. to Of. BY June
of the present year 400 persons had been
insured.
1t remains to be added that the expert
ment will cease in 1897, unless the citizens
by plebiscite should decree it's continuance
in the coming autumn.