The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-05-10

AY lU. lSUO.
of the individual man and his family.
The law am going to write about has
benefited both parts to such anextent,
that it would be difficult to determine
which part has received the lions
share. The following are the condi-
tions under which it operates:
In 1883 law was passed by the |
German Reichstag providing for the
insurance against sickness, accident,
invalidity and old age of every person
in the empire who works for salary, or
wages. The law is compulsory, and in
cludes both sexes. A bookkeeper,
stenographer, foreman, ETC., is included
just the same as servant girl or street
sweeper. Exempt from this law are
government officials, soldiers in the
standing army, and all such other per-
sons for whom the government pro-
vides pensions, etc., in case of disability.
This insurance is national enterprise
under supervision Of the government,
and every city or district elects its own
officials, who receive no pay, except
the secretaries and such other officers
who devote their entire time in the
service To he elected to such an
Office, is considered an honor and
mark of great confidence. Many ply
sicians and surgeons view the matter
in the same light, and havevolunteered
their services gratuitously. Wherever
the enterprise does not have hospitals
of its own, arrangements have been
made with the public hospitals, whole
sale drug firms, nurses, etc.
Every employer has to see to it that
each one of his employees is so
insured within foIty-eight hours after
they have entered his service. Within
that space of time all employers are
! obliged to notify the authorities that
Fsuch and such q person has been en-
gagged by him, and at the same time he
has to produce that persons duly ac-
knowledged insurance book. IF he fails
to do so. he, the employer, not the
employee, is held responsible, and liable
to fine of from one to one thousand
marks, according to the gravity of the
offense, or neglect, committed. Thanks
to the magnanimity of the majority of
employers, the insurance fee is paid
largely by them; at all events, they
have to see to it that it is duly paid.
Whenever an employee becomes too
ill to work, or is otherwise disabled.
: medical attendance and medicine is
furnished to him or her free of charge
and, if necessary, the persons transfer
to hospital is provided for. At the
same time such person receives Ger.
tain weekly allowance in money, com.
, mensurate to the wages or salary he
was earning previous to his disability
Such allowance, in money and other
wise, last as long as the person is ir
actual need of it, no matter how long
that may be. lfpermanently disabled
the person receives pension for life
This, while not very large, is always
sufficient to protect him, and those de
pendent on him, from actual want.
L have Investigated the workings o.
a this law at three different times, th'
, last time in 1900, and have interviewed
+ nearly thousand employees in tn
q large industrial centers of Germany
, With but very few exceptions, foun'
i. all the interviewed most enthusiastic
q ally in favor of this law; the few VIII
were not so, had evidently been influ
\ enced by certain political party, tn
!. like of which are found in all cOur
r tries, always opposed to anythin
# undertaken by the established govern
h ment. How could it be otherwise
n When person knows positively tina
h he and his dependents will be provide
r. for if disabled from self-support b
70 any Of the causes named, that fact
"a bound to raise his self-respect by th
,e knowledge that, under no circumstal
" ces, will he become q burden to char
e. table institutions, or to the benevolent
" of his fellow men. Such knowlede
" not only causes self-esteem; but ais
'. contributes considerably to the happ
r ness and contentment of the indivi'
10 ual..
ID This law has now been in operatio
in Germany twenty-five years, and b,
re long since passed the stage Of expe1
ar mentation. Beggars are now scarce