The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-08

stamps upon cards. II the wages are weekly
the stamps must be a.1ye! in advance every
Monday: if monthly. they must be alike
on the first day of every month. and il
quarterly, on the first day of the quarter in
advance. One-half Of the premium must be
lail Dy the employee. the other half by the
i"rson Insured. unless there Is Il contract
or agreement otherwise. The employer is
Reid responsible. however. and IL the sfa mps
ore hot pasted In the books promptly the
penalty IL a fine. A police inspector is liable
to come around at any hour to examine the
cards. He may come every north or he
may not come at all. but i. is just as we'll
TO he pref AIRED for him. ~ the employer il
Responsible. he usually keeps the card in his
W hands. pastss on the stamps at the
Iroper Tine end dedr.c's the servants share
from his wages. Where the premium IL
small. TIE minimum being d: cents a week.
the employer often pays the full amount,
and 1t Is frequently a matter OF agreement
that he shall do so. When neop!e hire ont
they often insist that in addition TO their
wages the employer shall keep UP their
Insurance.
inc stamps must he Cancelled with the
date on which they are affixed to the card.
and any failure to observe all the .szria-
lions is punishable by a fine.
POST OFFICES SELL STAMPS.
The stamps are sold at all pos. offices and
other places where postage stamps can be
had. and resemble postage stamps in APP
peafance. but are Of a different size and de-
Sign. There are various denominatiols ,
from 10 pfennigs to several marks. the lat
ter for quarterly payment upon large in
comes. The cards can only ne obtained CT
the police. who require .he person II slired
to present himself or herself for ideutifca-
lion in case of death. marriage. etc. so ss
10 prevent fraud. The number of the card
issued r. included In the life record of each
citizen as kept by the police. They have
the biography Of every citizen of Germany.
None but the person insured can obtain n
card, and he or she must return IL when it
has been filled with stamps. although the
employer may be present as a witness II
desired. When a person changes employ
ers. occupation or residence he must notify
the police. and If there Is any trouble con-
cerning an insurance card the dispute must
be submitted at the nearest office OF the In
surance department.
For the purpose OF insurance. wage-earn-
ers are divided into five classes, according
to their incomes. as follows:
Class. Ineen,. per year. per week.
FIRST .......... ....-....$ s. or less .6S
T Tss2ad 49,. :.::::A ,s 8 to to ' 81 g: g!
Fifth 49,. -. "a and more U.s.
BY mutual agreement with their employ
err people may be insured above their reg
ular rate into q higher class in order to
make better provision for old age. Some
liberal-minded manufacturers and house,
keepers agree to insure all persons on their
payroll in the highest class. regardless OF
their wages. which costs about IS cents q
month. When any person who IL insured
retires from active employment. or becomes
disabled or ceases for any reason to earn
wages, the ydct must he prpfnntlv rPD0YfoT
to the police. As long as he or She liz out
OF employment the payment of premiums
can be omitted. When a woman servant
marries the fact must be properly recorded.
and she may either suspend payment of
premiums or continue them as che chooses,
for the law does not require married women
TO be insured. She is not permitted to with
draw the money she has already paid. but
when she becomes 60 years OF age or so. dis
abled that she cannot earn her own living
she may draw = per cent interest Indefinitely
upon the amount standing to her credit
upon the books of the agency, and upon her
death the principal is divided among her
heirs. The same rule applies to all persons
insured under the Government system.
There are all sorts of private insurance
companies, more perhaps than in any other
country. because the opportunity for saving
money in Germany II more limited than in
the United States. and the thrifty DISPOSE
ton of the people impels them to adopt all |
possible methods Of providing for their fu- |
ture.
Among other curious insurance schemes
is one which guarantees its patrons against |
the expense OF Illness. The patrons pay s
marks tSg a year as a premium. and II they |
become Ill they send for one of the phySi- |
clans named in the circular which is at
tached 20 the policy. II sick more than Eve |
they are sent to a hospital-any hos
pital on the list. The insurance company
pays the expense OF an ambulance and all |
fees.
BY the payment Of Il marks a year, the
premium. the policyholder II in
sured against the loss of his wages. The
company undertakes to make them good to
IL for any reason he Is unable to work.
This is~a very convenient system for
and 1t is customary in Ger !
many for them to take out policies for all
Of their servants. These policies can be
IF the personnel OF the house,