The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-12-29

by such n policy will be bringing II up
In tho United States. despite the fact
that labor here is better paid and that
pauporlsm Is not proportionately so
extensive. In accordance with the
laws OF human nature. an old-nge PEN
sion will seem to prospective recipients
none the less desirable because II 10
less needed. especially II some one else
pays the bill. Every argument now
being urged In behalf OF old-age PEN
sions In England naturally applies In
kind, though usually not In degree. to
the United States, and n the protests
OF many British statesmen against tho
principle OF the thing prove powerless
against tho united voices OF British
labor. the implication Ia. to put II mild
ly. that the American cousin might do
well to keep an eye on the progress
and the outcome OF the debate.
W. Il. n. Lccky. the historian. who
was member OF the select committee.
and who made n minority report con-
domning the whole scheme. wrote aA
follows; There Is. as II seems TO me,
a fundamental and most dangerous
mlsconccption which the term old-age
pension tends 20 accredit. The PEN
slons. largely OF the nature OF deferred
pay. given by the state or by private
employers. for specific services duly
rendered, to those who have been In
their employment or under their con-
troll. have no real analogy to the pro-
posed state endowment OF all old per-
sons. or at least OF all respectable old
persons. who. at the close OF lifo
OF independent industry. find them
selves insuflicientiy provided with tho
means OF livelihood. Such an endow-
ment drawn from the taxation OF the
country would be essentially OF the
same nature as poor law rallaG How
ever much II may be disguised by 9TH
or names. Il would be an eleemosynary
I grant resting on no foundation OF nat
ural right. There Is no real ground for
the assertion that because an industrl-
Gus man has failed to earn a suficlency
he has moral right to be rewarded
for his industry out OF the proceeds OF
a tax levied upon his neighbora TO
whom he has rendered no service. or
none which has not been paid for In
wages"
MIR. Lecky knows how TO write. ana
his report made by far the most in
toresting reading In the whole Blue
Book. But tho scant attention II re-
celved showed how unpopular was tho
side the author had taken. In the
committee he was the only member
who voted for IT, Il can hardly con-
celve," he writes. anything more GER
tain TO discourage thrift and to sap
the robuster qualities OF the English
people than that the belief should grow
up among the whole working popula-
ton, including the most industrious,
the most respectable and the most In
dependent. that they should look for
ward to the state and not to their own
exertions to support them during theiI
old age"
But Mr. Lecky's words. however
much their logic may appeal to Ameri'
can minds, are lost In England, where
opposition to old-age pensions on the
part OF public man Is likely to cause
his political extinction.
II the question had not assumed thii
political aspect It might be possible
yet to reach some form OF compromise
In extending the present elaborate
system OF "poor-law relief" as Mr.
Ieoky suggests; but that does moi
look likely now. Even so conserya'
tive man as Cardinal Vaughn hai
caught the prevailing fever surely.
he says. the rich are bound TO tai
themselves or TO be taxed, for thei
poorer brethren. am always at I
loss to understand why the colossal In
comes should not be taxed at highel
rate than. say, the average net income
OF the upper classes. II is fitting tina
surplus and extravaganza should b
moro heavily taxed than ordinary an'
legitimate expenditure"