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

persons injured 25.7 dled this percent-
age was reduced to g.. in 1894. The
cause Of this gratifying decrease can
doubtless be found in the system of ac-
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 lnes are i'm
posed upon those who do not carry out
these regulations.
The associations may still further re-
duce the risk of heavy pecuniary losses
through accidents by paying particular
attention to the restoration to health
and earning power Of those injured. In
great number of cases Of injury caused
by accidents the health of the injured
and his ability to earn 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 possi
In 1886 the total of the indemnitles
paid to the injured and their dependents
amounted in round numbers to $500, 600
and in 1894 to $ll,OOO,OO The sum
total of payments from 1856 to 1894
was $4S, 100000 In the same period
the number of the dependents upon
workmen killed and entitled to accident
insurance was 90, 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-
ance 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 invalldl-
ty insurance. lnvalidity insurance is a
state matter. For larger territories (the
provinces in Prussia) insurance insti-
tutiCns have been established, which
are managed by a board Of directors,
composed OF high government officials,
together with representatives OF employ
crs and employees. In addition to this
board of directors there is a committee
made up exclusively Of representatives
of the employers and employees, who
have a right, defined by law, to coop
crate in the management, especially III
, matters concerning the budget of the
insurance institution. The costs of in
surance are levlet. in the form OF week.
ly contribp lions, one half from employ
ers and the other half from employees
!, Payments Of dues are made by ailiXiue
stamps to receipt cards.
This insurance provides for the injur
ed: Cd An annuity at the beginning OF
total and lasting Inability to earl iy
) ing, regardless as to the cause OF this
inability (invalidity annuity.
, (2) The annuity when the age Of x
: is reached (old age annuity.
, TO each annuity the German govern
} ment makes fixed annual contribution
Of $l2.50.
l BY the end Of 1896 a total Of 5ll.
O20 annuitles had been granted-viz
2l7, 207 for invalidity and 293. 1913 TO-
old age. Forty seven and one-haf mil
: lion dollars was paid, thereiore-vlz
I SIS, $50, 600 iuvalidity anuutles aMt
: $34 4,2Jv, 600 old age annultles. AT tn
s end of 1897 the aggregate assets of al
Il insurance institutions amounted t.
: $ll5, 900, 900.
y Besides paying annuities, the insur
It ance Institutions have developed yer
S important branch for the protection Q
Il worzingmen-viz, the care Of the sic
for the purpose Of preventing the az
e proach Of invalidity. When working
l. man is affected by a disease which
d according to medical opinion, foreshao
IS ows all early approach Of invalidity
h the insurance institution makes hil
If submit to an energetic treatment at II
s. own expense in order to delay the be
e ginning Of invalldity
1t In order to make the treatment MOI
is effective the insurance institutions hay
1T established sanitarlums for working
,e men. The Insurance institution at Be-
20 lin was the first one to set up such
l. sanltarium Oh the estate OF GuetergO,
is and has secured good results from it,
to large number OF workingmen havin
ID improved SO much that they could agal
take up their occupations.
l. During the stay Of the workingma
e. in the sanitarium his family receive
?e regular assistance from the institution
le The duration OF this treatment varl
A. between eight weeks and a full yea
T. Eut there is one disease especial
I'd whose ravages among workingmen a.
ne very extensive, to subdue which gree
efforts are being made by the lnstlt'
,6 fi0US This is uulnOuary cOnSUmDtiO
~ A very large percentage OF all cases