The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-09-04


have not the right to exclude those
who are illiterate, above a reasonable
age; and who are not entitled to ad-
mission because of family considera-
tions? Who will say that it is not
our moral duty to do so? And who
will deny that such exclusion is not
justified in the best interests of Ameri-
can labor and American citizenship?
Labor Insurance.
There are few subjects more wor-
thy of our consideration than that of
labor insurance. One of the most
benefcent provisions in our domestic
economy is insurance: life insurance,
fire insurance, fidelity insurance, acct
dent insurance and the like The wis
dom of the distribution of loss result
ing from death, fire. dishonesty and
accident has long been recognized.
The extension of this principle to
those who are disabled by accident
while in the line of duty. or who are
incapacitated by age after long and
faithful service, would seem to be
natural development.
"The evolution in economic condi-
tions suggests the wisdom of some sys-
tenn of insurance against the impera-
tive necessities of those who have
given the productive period of their
lives to the service of large industrial
or corporate interests, or who, without
blame and from the hazards of the
service, are incapacitated. Various
methods of dealing with the subject
have been tried and are being tried.
The whole matter is largely in the
experimental stage. In some countries
the insurance is furnished by the gov
eminent, and in others by the govern
ment, the employers and employees
jointly.
During the past few years some of
the larger corporations in this country
with the commendable desire to ad-
vance the interests of their employees,
have instituted a system of insurance.
They are making the experiment, and
the result will be watched with inter
est. In some cases the fund is con-
tributed by the employees and it is ad-
ministered by the corporation, and in
others it is contributed entirely by the
corporation.
In March last the Metropolitan
Street Railway company of New York
adopted plan of insurance which was
briefly outlined in an address to the
employees of the company by the presi-
dent as follows:
ITO All Employes-The plan
have long had in mind of establishing
a pension system for the relief of the
superannuated employees of this COM
pany, members of the Metropolitan
Street Railway association, whose
annual maximum wages have not ex-
ceeded $1,000 per annum, has finally
been perfected. and will be put into
effect On or before July 1.
"'This pension system provides for
voluntary and involuntary retirement
of all employees so included, between
the ages of sixty-five and seventy, af-
ter twenty-five years service in the
Metropolitan Street Railway company.
or any of it's constituent companies.
Employees benefited by the system will
be of two classes:
'First-All employees who have at
tained the age of seventy years. who
have been continuously in such service
for twenty-five years or more preced.
ing such date of maturity; and
'Second-All employees from sixty.
five to sixty-nine years old who have
been twenty-five years or more in such
service. who. in the opinion of the trus-
tees of the pension, have become ply
sically disqualified.
"'All employees of seventy years will
be considered to have attained a max
imum age allowed for active service
and will be retired by age limit while
those whose ages range from sixty-five
to sixty-nine may. upon examination
capable.
1.-The pension allowance to such re-
tired employees shall be upon the fol
lowing basis:
"'(a) If service has been continu
Gus for thirty-five years or more, 40
per cent of the average annual wages
for the ten previous years.
"'(b) If service has been continuous
for thirty years. 80 per cent of the av.
erage annual wages for the ten previ
Gus years.
"'(c) If service has been continuous
for twenty-five years, rs per cent of the
average annual wages for the ten pre-
vious years.
1.-The fund from which payments
will be made will be appropriated each
year by the company. and employees
will not be required to contribute to it.
my object in establishing this de
partment is to preserve the future vel
fare Of aged and infirm employees, and
to recognize efficient and loyal ser
vice.
This is decided step in advance;
it is in the right direction.
"Other large corporations, such as
the Illinois Central Railroad company
and the Pennsylvania Railroad 'compa
ny, have adopted a system of pension
ing their employees. do not pause to
consider the merits of the respective
systems adopted, but merely advert to
the fact as evidence of the recognition
by some of the large employers of la
Dor that faithful labor has some equi
ties which entitle it to consideration
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