New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-09
MIsFORTUNE's BURDENS.
THE GERMAN INSURANCE SYSTEM OF
DISTRIBUTING THEM.
JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS SAYS IT Is THE GREAT
EST SCHEME EVER TRIED by ANY

EST SCHEME EVER TRIED by ANY
| GOVERNMENT.
The title OF John Graham Brookss lecture at the
| Berkeley Lyceum yesterday morning was Distrib-
ut,ns the Burdens Of Misfortune" and the subject
was the German insurance system. He said that It
was the greatest scheme ever tried by any govern
ment and has been taken up by every economist OF
note
| The system was developed. though not originated
by the great Professor Scheier. and adopted by the
| Iron Chancellor merely TO further his own ends
Mr. Brooks says because he saw that II would
unite the interests CT the working men and women
10 the present type OF government
| The system was Introduced In 1853 by law pro-
vldlng for compulsory insurance OF worhin2men
against sickness. the expense being shared by en-
ployer and employed. The responsibility FOR the
operation OF the law is thrown little groups rep
resented by Board OF Arbitration. which il com
posed OF both employers and workmen
woRKINGMEN CARED FOR.
Under this law a worklngman IL cared for when
he Is ill-for thirteen weeks. II necessary-by the
hest science In Germany and one-half OF his wage l.
paid 10 his family. II he dies ne Is buried at the
expense OF the Insurance Fund. with suitable cere-
monies and dignity. and twenty times his daily wage
is given his family
In 1854 an Accident law was passed. and 100000
workmen are now compusorily insured against all
forms OF accident.
The whole expense f1r this form OF insurance Is
borne. IN the first instance by the employers but II
falls In the end. the consumer. FOR II IL reck-
oned into the cost OF the product. ard those who
wish 10 use articles that only be manufactured
under great risks must pay accordingly.
In comparing this law with our Employers LA
bllty act Mr. Brooks said that the gross cruelty
OF the latter equal 10 anything that existed I'M
der slavery.
Employers here are permitted to exerp, them
for
"and a. they an get the best lawyers 10 defend
them the poor man is helpless. But under the Ger
man system lawyer however great, can stahd
against the talent that can be brought TO defend
the poorest lAhorar n the country
These two laws are working fairly well but the
old-agc law which was The las, step taken In the
practical Development Of the system. has been less
successful Yet IT IS "A great advance on free in
surance and no one can actually suffer under r.
one curious result OF il. and one not very credit
able 10 human nature. Is that aeec parents instead
Of being boarded out or allowed TO drlit mo the
pOorhouse are taken into the familes or tle-r
children for the simple reason that their NIUE IN
The Lecturer said that the Germans had dscov
cred and that all great economists are now agrt'u
that our rapidly changing Industrial CONDITIONS
make some kind OF Insurance OF the "Orhilgfnhii
absolutely necessary for the gereral "e"-Delhs u
society. -,... - ..,d "o-o
brorgh, 10 Us by processes OF Piled science that
make life harder FOR the weak. Thus each one OF
getting
the opening OF the suez Canal. but 1900 ships
were thrown out by H."
RAISING THE STANDARD OF LIVING
The lecturer said further that this system was
raising the whole standard OF living In Germany
and that II We ever get II here-and he thinks our
Civil Service Is not sufficiently perfected 10 make 1t
work al present-it will straighten out this awful
snarl OF municipal politics" In Germany II seems
they DO not ask about a mans politics Wnen they
ar looking for a municipal official but when they
want Mayor for the city OF Berlin they insist on
having the ablest and most hard headed business
man in the whole country
THE NEW WOMAN COMING.
In conclusion, Mr.. Brooks said that this warfare
against social evils kind OF new knight er-
rantry in which both sexes would engage equally
and that St Simon's vision Of the young woman
coming radiant with earning. was true one
she is coming faster and faster, he said, "and
this is the use 10 which her gifts will be put
The next lecture. to be given on Friday afternoon
at 40 o'clock will be the last OF the course Its
subject will be Some Plain Talks Which Concern