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

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, as
%sociations of separate industries, man
aged jointly by employers and employ
ed. Premiums for such insurance are
raised by weekly contributions, fixed
according to the requirements Of the re-
spective funds and made by employers
and employees in the proportion Of one
to two. Besides these local sick funds,
a few other forms Of organization are
permitted. The law makes insurance
obligatory, inasmuch as every working
man becomes a member of his respective
association Immediately upon taking up
a certain occupation.
Sickness insurance went into effect at
the end of 1884, and, according to the
first statistical reports of the year 1856,
the total number Of benefciaries was
1900, 600. Ten years later Tin lS94) the
number had risen to 5000, 900. The
following benefits are realized from
sickness insurance-viz, medical treat
ment, medicine and other sickroom sup
plies and weekly cash indemnities.
When a patient is treated in a hospital
at the expense of the fund, his family
receives cash assistance. At the birth
of a child a cash contribution is given
the mother if she is a member OF the
association. In cas-" of the death Of a
member his family receives a fixed sum-.
Within the last few years a special
branch, for the care of the sick and of
conralescent patients has been estab-
lishod, legislation quickly sanctioning
this branch of insurance. The total
number of cases of sickness entitled to
the benefit of such insurance was, in
1885. 1880, 900, and in 1894, g, 400, 900.
ness amounted in 1894 to $25 600, 0C0
as against only $12, 600, 900 in 1885.
Very interesting is the fact that the
thoroughness Of the care of the sick has
gradually increased. While the average
expense Of a single case amounted to
ST. so in 1885, it rose to $40 in 1894.
4he expenditure for days sickness has
also increased from AZ to 81 cents. In
the first decade the total expenditures
for the cost Ct sickness amounted to the
respectable sum of $3.50, 600, 900.
Under the influence Of workingmen
insurance a very much harder race of
men is growing up. The need for the
sickness insurance law is clearly shown
by the fact that the cause Of the impov-
erishment of numerous wOrkingmen's
families, in the absence Of such insur-
sufficient assistance during the sickness
of their hreadwinners, and chat assist
ance is usually given them only after
everything the family possessed in saw
ings, furniture, tools and clothing has
been sacrificed for the care Of the sick
and for the scantiest support. Therefore
with many workingnlen a serious ILL
ness results in a diminution of earning
capacity, if not in q total incapacity to
earn q living for the rest of their days.
Neither should l forget to mention
/ the beneficial results obtained through
sickness insurance, because of the time
ly beginning OF the relief it brings ard
because ct its net ending its care pre-
maturciy. Formerly the uninsured
worklngman sought medical advice en-
ly in serious cases, and nearly always
WuGu IL was lOO 1dtt. lIlC WIZ lllSlIlG IL
has now become accustomed to the adj
vantage Of medical advice gratuitously
placed at his disposal at the slightest
disturbance of his health. He stops his
work If necessary and takes it up again
only after full recovery.
The second branch Of the insurance
for workingmen embraces accident in
CT, ~ ,,<.n-i g.. a ocoiloptc c,,ct,i,oS
while at work. Accident insurance is
carried on Ivy trade associations, which
are corporate societies of employers OF
the same or related branches of indus
try. The expenses of accident insurance
are borne by employers exclusively, no;
in the form of fixed contributions. as Is
the case with sickness insurance, but
by assessments of annual dues Of tie
individual employers in proportion tc
the wages paid by them to their men.
In 1894 the number Of establishments
subject to this insurance amounted tc
5, 200, 600 and the number Of in :ureG
persons to Is, 200. 600.
The service of accident insurance con.
sists III giving medical treatment, be.
ginning with the fourteenth week Nhe
first l3 weeks are provided for by the
sickness insurance), in granting an an.
nulty to workuen injured or to the sur.
vlvors Of those killed by accident, aio
i'll paying the funeral expenses OF tho
victims.
La 1894 tie number of persons injured
in insurance paying establishments by
reason Of accidents Amounted to G9.G00,
including G,3UO who were killed Oi
greater Importance is the propnrtiouate
decrease OF s~rious accidents with fata.