New-York tribune., 1907-07-29
RECKLESS POLITICS
Costs of old Age Pensions and IN.
accurate Journalism.

posals for carrying out this social reform, :,
Chaplin's committee suggested a pension no+ -
than five shillings nor more than seven SHINE
a week for every BritOn over sixty-fve who ~
neither received poor relief nor been conyio.-.
of crime and who did not have more than -
shillngs a week to live upon. The cosr. ~ -
scheme is estimated at SO $50 900 for 1sa7 -
f14.S7S.OOO for 1921 There has been A la,-
project for pensioning everybody over sixtv-s-'
at the weekly rate of five shilngs, and this ,-,r
involve an expenditure of f27, 1000 at ono. -.
of $50 692 900 after fourteen years with 49,"
increase of population. Mr.. Asquith has .-@
visionally earmarked over E1.5OOOOO In the
budget for starting a pension fund but ~
beggarly the sum appears when these estir,ot.-
are considered, There can be no adeou,,o
sources under free trade for general Da,.,S-
system The burden will have to be dfyida1 -
tween the imperial treasury and the rates MT,
heavier death duties and wholesale spoIi.+,o-
of rich mems fortunes. That is the prsc+,,a,
conclusion reached by the tariff reforners -
are openly counting the trades unioDists IT,
blue book enables them TO say that there ca, -
no hope of financing old age pensions u1,ass
tariff be levied for largely increased reve7ps p
is their reckless bid for Turing working E7g,,ns
to reverse its verdict Of two years ago and -
abandon free trade as a lost cause inconnpatibla
with social reform.
British politics are rapidly becoming so,=,,
and demoralizing The labor members. nov, 49,.
the judge-made law of combination has ~
revised az the dictatiOn OF the trades 1nionis,
have concentrated their efforts upon securing
pension system, and neither the government w.
the Tory opposition offers resistance 10 tba
costly scheme, but each is prepared 10 adyOcs.,
II if II can be financed in d special way Tbs,
is no talk about the encouragement Of thrih ~
contributions from those insured against old ags
Veteran workers are 70 be peuSOued of Virh0r.
having added systematically 10 the funds a. 4,
done in Germany. The British pensions are N
be gratuities paid when the age limit Of siyrv
five has been passed and impTovidence or in.
temperance or Incidence IS not 10 dsquslifr
veterans from receiving them and living az ths
expense of the state In Germany as much "a
$500 900 IS expended annually in old age and
invalldity pensions but there have been suual
payments by workers and employers year aft4r
year. and il Is a comparatively small subsidy
that Is added by tne treasury officials Ths
working classes are paying nearly half the coss
of their insurance against old age and incapac-.
ity. and are not the benefciaries of funds which
the local authorities and the imperial govern-l
ment raise by oppressive taxation In England
all parties playing with the question OF pen-i
sOns without considering the moral effect %
gratUitOus dOies which are wholly UDearued Ths
trades unionsts want 10 relieve their charity
funds at the cost of the general taxpayers; tha
Liberals are bent upon giving workers a social
measure which will command their gratitude
and support, and the tariff reforuers are ready
TO promise pensions 10 all If they can be allowed
to bring in a new fiscal system on their return
10 power. There IS intense zeal for partisan ad-
vantage but how little practical thought is given
70 the encouragement Of thrift. the increase ot
working power. the maintenance of self-support
and the Improvement OF the social condition os
workaday England
II political parties have become less scrupu.
lous and high minded in their treatment o.
public affairs, so also has there been deClins
of seriousness and responsibility in journalism.
The verdict of $4,000 damages against "Tha
Daily Mali in ths soap libel action NJ Liverpool
perhaps the heaviest fine ever imposed upon q
newspapers a forCible reminder tlat tournai-
ism is a moral trust which cannot safely bs
abused in q mad competition for popular feat
ures and enormous circulation The Daily
Mali undertook in the public interest, and t'
cidentally for its own advantage. tp smash a
powerful soap combination. and succeeded IN it5
enterprise. In the absence OF law for regulating
and controlling industrial combinations it as
sumed the public duty OF warning the country
against the dangers of trusts and uoDoDole5
similar u those which President Roosevelt has
been seeking IN bring under restraint ~ America
Its battle was fought with strenuous energy
and amazing CIeverress, but not with discretion
and sobrtety of Judgment II exceeded 'he
bounds OF fair and legitimate comment and
made reflections on the honor and integrity ol
Mr.. Levers business methods. which could not oe
sustained by evidence in q court OF law NoI
only were his combinations with other manu-
facturers upset and his stocks and properties
reduced in value BY public prejudiSe and Sensa-
tional articles. but his reputation IS a man or
honor was assailed and wantluly sacrificed hs
was compelled 10 seek redress in The courts, anu
has obtained IL after the sudden and complies
collapse OF the defence While his own losses
may not have been covered by the aSSeSsIaenI
OF damages. he has secured exemplary punish
ment OF his assailants and a satisfactory vihaI'
cation of character from systematic Getamat'D'
This libel action tends to prove that comoina-
tons and trusts must be regulated by law raLl'.
than ty newspaper. The moral effect or Lh'
Daily Mails" victorious campaign agaInsg ~
soap trust has been completely CoUnteracted +"
this enormous bill OF damages and It's own eo-.
pulsory admission that Mr.. Lever was unAL'
attacked on untrustworthy and Inaccurate =
forr:ation. Newspaper readers are seldom sraH,
full for agitations conducted in the interest," -
the main body of consumers. They are aPt "
suspect that the halfpenny reforuers Eo'1,o
are not dsinterested. and thar increased eTe"-
tion. advertising and uotoriet' outwelsA vs-
siderations of public benefit Lord Nor'hc-N-
year ago was credited with zeal and moran a.
thority in smashing the soap combination az
he is now piIloried for allowing his puoilea'.o.
to make Il defamatory attack ON business ih'e-
ests IL is not an experience that VIII ehtU'I. -.
him 10 repeat the experiment or reSu'i'-S -.
trusts by newspaper at his own rlsSi anu anu -
general effect of so sweeping a verdict VIZ Is
TO induce caution the part NJ other Jo',-
in COndemniug Industrial combinations an" -, -
viting similar reprisals. These are unIor'u"
results. for a viSilant press with the ''O~ =
required for exposing abuses and streNu0"S
advocating public interests is essential 10 IAo
welfare OF the nation. The Daily Man
lost prestige from its eageruess % preSsN.
subject OF exceptional interest IN striking 10 -,
sensational way, and that is the hese''Uis s.
OF halfpSnny journalism As The NeS'l,l',' l. a.
Gazette astutelv remarks: Great pubic ~
terests and delicate foreign affairs are tre@'e-