The San Francisco call., 1897-08-15
COMPULSORY INSURANCE IN
GERMANY.

About three years ago the Government
Printing Office published report of John
Graham Brooks of the Labor Bureau on COM
pulsory insurance as carried on in Germany
Neither Mr.. Brooks report nor the editorials
which some of the leading newspapers COM
menting on the subject brought before the
public explained the matter in manner
comprehensive to the average workingmaD.
Mr.. Brooks reported very favorably about it,
but he came 10 the conclusion that it would be
advisable to watch the effects OF the law in
Germany little longer before introducing
similar measures in this country, as it might
be possible that still better method of opera
ton, or at least an improvement of the pres
ent system, might be discovered in Germany
and of which the United States could take
advantage.
1t may be true, as Mr.. Brooks said that
some OF the expectations which the enthusi-
astc trainers OF the law originally entertain ed
have not been fully realized, and it may also
be true that the tendency of the Social Democ-
racy has in no way been checked by it, but
these are surely matters of secondary import
ance. The main ana predominant object of
the law WAS and is to benefit the working
people, and this object has baen fully realized
The German compulsory insu rance law,
which went into operation in 1888 and has
since been slightly amended two or three
times, provides that all employees must be in
sured against sickness, accident, invalidity
and old age. The word employe is taken in
the full meaning OF its sense and comprises
all classes, such Government officials,
clerks, bookkeepers, statesmen ana sales
women, mechanics, laborers and servants; in
fact, everybody who is working for salary or
wages, except those employees who earn 1000
marks or more per annum. Every employer
has to see to it that one and all his employees
are so insured within ten days alter entering
his service If he fails to do so he (the en-
ployer) is held responsible and liable to fine
OF from 5 to 1000 marks, according to the
gravity of the ofense or neglect, whatever IL
may be. Every large town or district has its
own insurance office, which is controlled by
the Government. The officers are elected by
the people and do not receive any remunera-
ton for their services, which are considered
honorable, and in many cases even the physi-
clans are not paid, as many OF them have
volunteered their services Tor this philan-
thropic purpose. The cost OF insurance Is
therefore reduced to minimum ana not
felt by the lowest wage-earner, and even this
small cost is half borne by the employer, un-
less he has made special agreement to the
contrary with his employees.
ii employe becomes disabled from earning
Lis livelihood by anytof the causes above named
-
always sufficient to protect himself and fam
lily from want, while doctors service and
medicine are furnished to him free
of charge, and, if necessary, he Will be placed
in hospital. In this way thousands OF fami-
lies have been saved from becoming burden
to charitable institutions the benevolen ce
of their fellow-cltizens. Some other European
countries, notably Austria and Switzerland,
have already followed Germany's lead in in
Producing similar bills in their respective leg
islative bodies.
The writer of this article has taken much
interest in the workings of this law, and two
wears ago he interviewed more than thou.
sand laborers in the large manufacturing CEN
ters OF the empire. He spoke TO clerks, book
Keepers servants and officials about this in
surance law. but he never met single en-
ploye who was not most ent Enthusiastically il
favor of It, That ought TO speak for itself and
ought to convince the most skeptically in
clined persons that the benefits resulting to
the working people from this law is no mere
illusi0n WILLIAM HOFFMAN