Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-01
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 well
worthy the attention of every civilized
community. 1t is a question that has
recently been brought before the Brit
ssh Parliament through the report OF
a committee specially selected for the
purpose. The committee was appoint
ed to consider and report upon the
best means OF improving the condition
4 Of the aged and deserving poor, and or
providing for those of them who are
helpless ard infrm.
AS a country we have been extremely
liberal to our soldiers and their famil-
/ les. but no State assistance has ever
been given to old soldiers who have
fought only in LIES battle, and fought
lrayely and honestly, until Old age has
incapacitated them from fighting any
longer
OF course we have poornouses and
private charities, but so have other
countries which give public aid to the
egsd and 6eseTv ng Toor. Let US see.
then, what our English cousins propose
te do.
In me opinion OF the committee the
/ general iiles upon when scheme foI
I'D age pensions might best be passed
should include the following condl-
lions
ANY person who satisfies the pen
sen authority that he, first, is a Brit
ish suDjeel; s. c nd is xty-five years
Of age, third, has not within the last
twenty years been convicted of an Of
/ 70 1a1
III Imprisonment without the option OF
fine, fourth, has not received poor
relief other than medical relief, unless
under circumstances of wholly ex-
| ceptional character, during twenty
years prior to the application Tor
| pension. fifth. is resident wiShin the
district of the pension authority; sixth.
| has not an incone from any source OF
Eore than ten stillings a week; and
seventh, has endeayored to the best of
his AGILITY 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 pensions are connected with
compulsory insurance divided between
! The workman and his emp oyer. In tn
recent inquiry on tie subject which
| has taken place in Holland the deslra-
bility of such insurance was nearly une
| 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 such compulsion places it outside
the range of practical politics
| Of all Continental countries Den
mark has the most successful old age
pension system, and this has served ae
q model for the one proposed to the
English Parliament This was enacted
| by law passed 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.
There are also three disqualified
| tons. The pensioner must not have
| undergone sentence for any transaction
accounted dishonorable, and in respect
| of which ne had not received renabili-
tation, his pove. ty must net be. the
/ consequence of any actions by which,
for the benefit CT his children or others,
| he has deprived himself of the means
/ of subsistence, or caused by a disorder
! ly and extravagant mode of life, or in
any other way be brought about by his
/ 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
| canno- refuse pension to any person
who fulGis all the conditions, the ma
! ture and the amount CT the relief to be
| given is left to their discretion. The
| act says, 1.-THE relief must be sufficient
| for the support of the person relieved
and Of his family and for their treat
nent in sickness, but it may be given
| in money, or in kind as circumstances
! require and consist in free admission
| to suitable asylum or 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 a certain annual maxi
| mum.
The old age pension scheme has
worked successfully in Denmark and
has been adopted in many civilized
/ countries, and suggests the question
why it should not be 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 not
| father At all events, the subject is
worth some thought.
/