News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-06-20
OLD AGE PENSIONS:
Something About the Present Movement
in England.


in England.
How best to help the aged and de-
serving poor is question that Is Wen
worthy the attention of every civilized
community. It is a question that has
recently been brought before the Brit
ish Parliament through the report or
a committee specially selected for tine
purpose. The committee was appoint
ed to consider and report upon the
best means OF improving the condition
If the aged and deserving poor, and OF
providing for trose Of them who are
helpless ard inffrm.
AS a country we have been extremely
liberal to our soldiers and their fam1I-
les, but no State assistance has ever
been given to old soldiers who have
fought only in lifes battle, and fought
bravely and honestly, until old age has
incapactated them from fighting any
longer.
Of course we have poornouses and
private charities, but SO have other
countries which give public aid to the
aged and Ceserv NJ ToOr. Let us see,
then, what our English cousins propose
t. do.
In ne opinion of the committee tho
general Ines upon wafcl sC1eme for
ia age q ns.ons m;ght best be passed
should include the following condi-
tions -
Any person who satisfies the rem
sion authority that he, first, is a Brit
ism subject; cond, is S Xty-fye years
ri age, TIL d, has not within the last
twenty years been convicted OF an Of
fence and sentenced to penal serYltude
Or imp. laenment without the option OF
a fine, fourth has not Te1e-vet poor
relief other than medical relief, IN esq
under circumstances of a wholly eX-
cepticnal character, during twenty
years prior to the application for a
pension. fifth, is resident within tho
district of the pension authority; sixth,
has not an income from any source OF
more than ten shillings a week; and
seventh, has endeavored to the best OF
his ABILITY. by his industry or by the
exercise of reasonable providence, to
make provision for himself and those
Immediately dependent on him; shall
receive a certificate to that effect and
be entitled to a pension"
On the Continent most proposals for
old age pansi-ns are connected with
compul DRY insurance divided between
The workman and his emp oyer. In thu
recent inquiry on tie subject which
has taken place in Holland the desira-
bility of such insurance was nearly the
only conclusion reached, and in Ger
many it is rigidly enforced. 1t appears,
however, to be generally admitted that
in England the extreme unpCpularlty
| Of sucn cOmpulsion places it outside
the range CT practical politics.
OF al Contir entail countries Dem
marx has the most successful cid age
pens son system, and isis has erved ao
u model fer the one proposed to the
| Engii h PariaU ent. This was enacted
ny law pessed in 1891
The three main qualifications for a
pension are that the applicant must be
native born, more than sixty years old
and practically destitute.
Thsle are also three disqualified.
items. The pen'ioner must not have
undergone set nee for q NJ transaction
acccunt ed d.shonora6le, and in respect
| Of VIII ch he had net received renabili-
| tatiCn, his pove ty must net be the
Consequence Of any actions by which,
for the benefit Of hi children or others,
he has deprived himself of the means
| of subsistence, or caused by sordGr-
ly and extravagant mode of life, or in
any other way be brought about by lis
own default, and he must not have re-
Ceived Poor law relief at any time
within ten years previous to the appli-
cation. !
Although the communal authority
cauro- efuse a tension to any person
who fullils all the conditions, the ma
ture and the amount OF the relief to be
given is left to their discretion. The
act says, THE relief must be sufficient
for the support Of the person relieved
and Of his family, and for their treat
ment in sickness, but it may be given
in money, or in kind aus circumstances
require and consist in free admission
to a suitable asylum CT other establish
ment intended for this purpose"
AS to the sources of this pension
fund. it seems that half is derived from
local funds and half is paid by the
State, but the total State contribution
is limited to certain annual maxi
mum.
The cid age pension scheme has
worked successfully in Denmark and
las been adopted in many civilized
countries and suggests the question
why it should not he done In the Unit
ed States There has always been a
dread of paternalism in this country,
and perhaps this is the reason why
Uncle Sam is called uncle and MT
father. At all events, the subject 10