The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-01-31
HELP FoR AeEp DEsTITUTIoN
BY Goverzment Ownership Of Railroads
ETery Ffftieth Person COuId BE Pen
Stoned a. $500 Per Year.
From the Kansas City star.

stoned at $500 Per Year
From the Kansas City star
The oid-age pension provisions made I
BY various large corporations within the /
last year are worthy Of notice as showing |
the sociological trend Of public seuti-
ment. 1t is the beginning Of a movement |
the ultimate result Of which viii DO
doubt be that old age viii be universally
cared for. The need Of such a general
provision is daily emphasized BY the sad
instances Of aged persons in distress
The Santa Fs railroad, an eastern shoe
factory, a steel corporation and other in
stitutions have recently provided for the
retirement OF their employees at the end
OF a period Of % or 90 years service on
allowances which, while not large, are
sufficient to keep absolute want away.
But while private concerns are 70 be
commended for this just and humane
consideration of their employees. such
sources cannot be depended upon for the
uniform protection OF the aged. This
must be obtained. if ever, through the
general government.
Already several governments, notably
New Zealand, have provided Old-age pen
sions. In New Zealand, where more than
one progressive innovation has been wit
messed within the last six years, every
person who arrives at the age Of s. is en-
titled to draw a pension of $50 a year,
provided he has resided in the country
% years, is Of good character and has
not more than $500 worth of property
or an income Of more than s. a week.
This pension is being gradually increased
as the revenues Of the government per-
nit. 1t is paid out Of the income de-
rived by the general government from
the public ownership Of the railroads,
telegraphs, telephones, express and in
surance companies. There are almost no
taxes in New Zealand. The reason the
pension is. not larger is that the New
Zealanders have reduced railroad fares
from three cents a mile to one cent, saw
ing the money to the people in this way
instead of distributing it in the shape Of
pensions.
If the United States owned its rail
roads alone the annual net earnings Of
S4OO,OOO.OOO (the figures Of a New York
Almanac) would pay a pension of $500 a
year to every Tooth person in the coun-
try. And if the railroads Of the United
States were consolidated into one sys-
tenn, as they would be under government
ownership, so as to eliminate competi-
ton and the other elements Of waste and
loss, the net earnings, according to the
opinions of J. J. Hill and other magnates,
would be immensely increased. 1t might
not be too much to say that pension of
$500 a year could be paid out Of the rail
road earnings alone to every fftieth per
son in the land, and certainly the super
animated and infirm would never be
more numerous than that. A million
old persons could thus be supported
without the cost Of a single penny to the
people in addition to what they now pay
to the railroads in fares and freight.
Which would be better-that 100000
aged persons be provided for or that a
few Goulds and Vanderbilts should
l Fe-EAC- NA4- ~4DNf0SefDlSf 6 AOm- 2 AU-
tire army officers on half pay; why not
do as much for those who have fought
our industrial battles for Us? Is not the
work of production as honorable as that
Of destruction?
The statesman who shall bring to pass
such a distributOry plan viii deserve to
stand foremost among legislators. It
was the boast of Augustus that he found
a Rome Of brick and left Rome of mar
bic, but how much nobler will be the
boast Of that statesman who shall have
it to say that he found old age depend
ent and left it free; found it in destitu-
ton. left it IL comfort; found it the
wreck Of early hopes, left it the time of
we'll earned rest; found 1t in the aims
house helplessly looking for deaths re-
lief, left it IN the enjoyment of a eompe-
tence with peace and coutentment sOoth-
ing its declining years.