The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-03

public funds, the report declared that thost
limitations cannot he expected long to sur
vlve. seeing that the principle on which
they rest Ia not ono generally accepted
or, indeed, capable Of exnot definition
1t was pointed out that the limit o.
age and Of the pensioners contributions
would probably be forced down. and
| the ratio Of pension forced up, until the
coat became an insuperable burden upon
the ratepayer or the imperial exchequer, OF
upon both combined The report proceeded
To ask Would such pension system an.
courage thrift In the working classes
Would It not affect the question Of wages,
and hand down to the employer rather
than the employed the benefit OF the State
contribution 2 Would the receipt Of State
aid be free from that faint OF pauperlsm
which makes Poor law relief bitter to the
self-respect and Independence OF the best Of
the working classes?'
Such was the situation OF the question
when the present session Of Parliament be-
gan. Thereupon several bills dealing with
the subject we're introduced in the House
Of Commons. One Of them an old-age pen
sion bill, camc on for second reading on
March 20, and Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN seized
the opportunity to deliver a speech In
which lie reviewed the whole history OF the
question. and announced that the Govern
ment proposed to appoint a select commit
tee, to which the bill should be referred.
1t Ia this select committee, the Chairman
OF which is Mr.. CHAPLIN. that has Just
made a report. Their scheme requires no
precedent contribution from tho pensioner,
but awards from five to seven shillngs
weekly to every poor and deserving British
subject who Is sixty-fve years old. The
term deserving" is interpreted to include
those who have never been In prison and
have not received parish relief, and the
term "poor" includes all those not pos
sessing an income Of ten shillings weekly.
Tho committee proposed that the cost
Of the system, which is computed by ex-
perts at 500, 900, 900 annually, shall fall
half on the local rates and half on the
national e1chequer.
AS, under this scheme, the local rate
payers would be In no degree relieved from
the burdens Of tho existing Poor law, It is
obvious that the additional load imposed
on them would be a grievous one. 1t is,
ALSO difficult to see how Sir MICHAEL
HIoKs-BEAcH, who has had to trench upon
the sinking fund to meet the extra ap-
preparations for tn, navy. can find the
$5o,ooo,oOO year which the project
would extract from the imperial treasury.
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer has
pointed out that the total increase in
the annual estimated expenditure Of the
United Kingdom, II the local taxation ac-
count be included, has been, during the last
four years, nearly 500, 900, 900. Before.
therefore, the British Parliament takes any
irrevocable step toward committing itself
to the vast and probably growing liabilities
with which old-age pensions would saddle
it, it is certain to take most careful stock
Of its present enormous outlay and consider
the probability OF its resources proving
adequately elastic.
AS, according to telegram from Lon
don, Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN himself repudiates
the scheme reported by the select commit
tee, we may dismiss the idea that an old
age pension bill will be included in the
Legislative programme Of the Salisbury
Government.