The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-09-23
Rapid City Black Hilsl South Dakota, Friday, Sept. %, 1898.

persons injured 25.7 died This percent
age was reduced to 81 in 1894. The
cause of this gratifying decrease can
doubtless be found in the system Of &C.
cident prevention introduced by the ac-
c,dent insurance law. In conformity
with the latter the trade associations
are empowered to make regulations by
which accidents in their works can be
guarded against. Heavy fines are inn
posed upon those who do not carry out
these regulations.
The associations may still further re-
duce the risk Of heavy p~ecuniary losses
through accidents by paying particular
attention to the restoration to health
and earning power Of those injured. In
a great number Of cases of injury caused
by accidents the health Of the injured
and his ability to earn a living may be
entirely or partly regained by rational
treatment. Therefore not only in their
own interest, but in that of their work
ingmen, the associations have paid spe-
cial attention to this matter, several of
them having even erected special hos
pitfalls in order to provide the best posi-
BILE medical attendance for the injured.
In 1886 the total Of the indemnities
paid to the injured and their dependents
amounted in round numbers to $500, 600
and in 1894 to Sill, 900, 900. The sum
total of payments from 1886 to 1894
was $49, $50, 600. In the same period
the number of the dependents upon
workmen killed and entitled to accident
insurance was 80, 900. That this branch
of insurance is often condemned by
workingmen is entirely due to the fact
that they are not permitted to take part
in the actual management of the insur-
nee business, especially in fixing the
annuity in the first place.
The third branch Of the working.
mems insurance, which was the last to
be introduced, is the invaliditv and old
age insurance, or, in short, the invalidi-
ty insurance. I%nvalidity insurance is a
state matter. For larger territories (the
provinces in Prussla) insurance insti-
tUtiCns have been established, which
are managed by a boaId Of directors,
composed Of high government officials,
together with representatives OF employ
ers and employees. In addition to this
UOuIu VI ulISClCIS G!ltIc Is d CbllllUllJ6C
made up exclusively Of representatives
of the employers and employees, who
have a right, defined by law, to coop
crate in the management, especially in
matters concerning the budget of the
insurance institution. The costs OF in
surance are levleu in the form OF week
ly contributions, one half from employ
ers and the other half from employees
Payments Of dues are made by aiiixiug
stamps to receipt cards.
This insurance provides for the injur.
ed: Cd All annuity at the beginning Of
total and lasting inability to earn a liv-
ing, regardless as to the cause of this
inability invalidity annuity.
(2) The annuity when the age Of 70
is reached Gold age annuity.
To each annuity the German govern
ment makes a fixed annual contribution
Of Sl2.50
BY the end O; 1896 a total of 511,-
020 annuities had been granted-viz,
2l7,207 for invalidity and 1913. 1913 for
old age. Forty seven and one-half mil.
lion dollars was paid, thorelors-viz,
$13. $50. 900 iuyalidity %anuuIUiGs ard
$34, 2JV, 600 old age annultles. Attic
end Of 1897 the aggregate assets of all
insurance institutions amounted to
$ll5, 600, 600.
Besides paying annuities, the insur-
ance institutions have developed a very
Important branch for the protection Of
Workingneu-viZ, the care of the sick
for the purpose Of preventing the APP
1,p,nt, Of ,,y,1i1;ry NTif,, , ,-,,i-i,,ry
man is affected by a disease which,
according to medical opinion. foreshad-
ows an early approach OF invalIdity,
the insurance institution makes him
submit to an energetic treatment at its
own expense in order to delay the be-
ginning Of in%validity.
In order to make the treatment more
effective the insurance institutions have
established saIitaTlums for working
men. The insurance institution at Ber-
lin was the first one to set up such a
sanltarium Oh the estate Of Guetergotz
and has secured good results from it. a
large number Of workingmen having
improved so much that they could again
take up their occupations.
During the stay Of the workingman
in the sanitarium bis family receives
regular assistance from the institution
The duration Of this treatment varies
between eight weeks and a full year.
Eut there is one disease especially
whose ravages among w~orkingmen are
very extensive, TO subdue which great
Efforts are being made by the instltu-
lions. This is pulmonary consumption.
A very large percentage of all cases of