The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-24
A PET THEORY DESTROYED.
EXPERIMENTS IN EUROPE WIN
UNIVERskL INSURANCE.

"A Increase In Accidents One Result
Landscape Advertisements In E.rinnd-
Centenary OF the SILK Hnt-A Novel
French Daei "A Hsroust who BeEs.
LONDON. Jan. 15.-It IL too carly perhaps to
speak decisively. but all the evidence thus far
points to the failure In practice Of one OF tho
pet schemes Of the Fabian school Of social re-
formers. Both Germany and Austria have
been experimenting with the plan for universal
insurance, which IL one Of the mildest
measures advocated BY the supporters OF
. paternal system Of government 1t
10 . measure which probably has COM
manded more general sympathy and sup
port In all countries than any OF the theories put
forward by this school OF social philosophers.
The test now In progress. although by no means
complete, has already furnished results that are
significant and important In both Germany
and Austria the operation Of the now laws pro-
vlding universal insurance against accident has
been followed by an alarming Increase In the
number OF accidents.
II is almost amusing to note that instead OF
being disconnected by tho of1cial returns show
ing q startling increase In the number Of deaths
aud injuries suffered by worklnRmen In the
course OF their daily duties. the enthusiasts who
support the now laws seem inclined to point
with pride" to the appalling record. They ar
firm, truthfully enough. that these insurance
schemes have secured to tho workers . great
deal Of compensation which they would not
otherwise have obtained" They argue. and
use the words Of leading FABIAN philosopher,
what the miner or the railway servant wants
is not to find out whose fault an accident 10 as
likely as sot II 10 nobody's fault-but to be COM
pensated for HE misfortune" The obvious
reply to this. OF course. Is; what tho miner or
railway servant wants Ia not to be paid when
maimod, but not to be MANNED at ALL"
! Some attempt has been made To deny that tho
nrst return Of the result OF tho operation Of the
scheme In Germany and Austria 10 a case OF
cause and effect. II Is possible. perhaps, to &C.
count foi some portion Of tho sudden increase
OF accidents In other ways. but ordinary knowl-
edge OF human nature alone will suf,ice In most
minds to connect universal insurance and In
creased accidents as natural concomitants. The
increased liability to accident arises not from
increased carelessness on the part OF the vic
tins so much as from slack moss In precautions
on tho part Of employers who have been re-.
lleved from individual liability for injuries to
I their employees under the new law.
such, At all events. is tho view taken OF tho
situation by all the trades unions OF England. A
pretty thorough canvass OF the subject has
been male within q few days by the Daily Neus
of London. and the leaders OF the railway men,
the sailors and lockers. and tho building trades
all condemn the universal insurance scheme as
substitute for good employers liability bill.
, The subject will probably be sgi,atsd extern
sively during the coming session OF Parliament.
but the reports from Germany and Austria
have certainly destroyed all chances of tho
adoption Of any scheme of universal insurance
/ In this country during the immediate future.
! Another agitation which 10 being ass uously
: promoted 10 anticipation OF the meeting OF Par
Lament Is purely aesthetic In Its motives. 1t Is
made In behalf of the Rural Advertisement
bill which has for its object the preservation OF
country landscapes from Disagreement By an
nouncements OF the virtues OF pills and soap.
The rather aimless perennial protests against
this kind OF offending In America have been
initiated without effect for many years pat In
! England. American agitators have apparently
come to the conclusion that no practical reform
can he gained except by means OF the tedious
process OF educating public taste up to their
own high standard. There were At one time
hints of popular boycott against the worst Of
Tenders In the United States. The adoption of
the Same weapon was suggested In this country
two or three years ago. but the idea Was speedi.
~ abandoned. The proprietors of So and SOS
pills and Somebody Eiss's soap quietly init.
mated. through their solicitors. to the more
active cham pions OF indebted Landscapes that
1 tney WOulu pyOmpty invoke the Jaw against
any such attempt TO interfere with their bust
ness. And there 10 no doubt that the CONNER
cial made law OF England would have deal
very severely with any ATTEMPT to interfer,
with British trade on the score OF mere good
taste.
Now. however, two propositions are undel
consideration by the really influential bod,
OF men and women who are anxious
10 prove that there do exist In th
island some few considerations to which
even commercial interests must yield. One Il
that power shall be given IN local Authorities I,
regulate. II not suppress. the evil cump!ai OF
The second IL that q substantial tax or dul,
shall be imposed upon ali publicly displayrt
4 advertisements. The idea OF suppresslng al
such placards by general law has beef
abandoned because 1t would be i'm possible I,
draft o bill which would draw the line between
legitimate and illegitimate public advertise
mcnts aud at tho same time mand adequate
public support. Many persons tLVre are VIII
would gladly favor legislation which shoul,
Danish the bswiiderng maze Of plAcards whcl
smother all railway stations. street cars. All,
omnib buses In this country. IL would DO hope
less. however. to undertake to overcome tn
combined opposition which all the transporta
ton conf anies In Great Britain would brin
against any such legislation.
|
Arts iast evening. It WAS decided to use ever
effort At the coming session OF Parliament I
secure the passage OF bill for granting dis
cretionary power to local authorities. II wa
pointed out as an encouraging example that
series Of hideDus advertisements had been re
moved from the rocks near Niagara Falls 4
obedience to the force OF public opinion.
seemed to be recognized. however. that no sue
saiutary influence was to DO expected from Ems
lish popular taste in the present day ana ger
GRAFTON. and 80 the more drastic measure wa
advocated. In reaching this decision. the NEE,
: ing enjoyed the advice and support OF no less n
: authority than the President Of tho Royt
Academy, who wrote as follows upon the sui
, ject:
. lam fully In sympathy with the objects G
your society, especially In your Efforts 20 chez
the needless Disagreement of natural scener
by the conspicuous advertisements which ar
, | only too onmOn. Even II the obi ect ionAbl
/, | plai ards which assert themselves so ofionsiyel
along some OF our principal railways served An
| nublic nhtayer there would he q "A