The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-13
1t Is Seen in the Increased
Movement in England to
Secure Pensions for the
Aged People.
GOVERNMENT SCHEME TO
BE PRESENTED SOON.
Will Carry With 1t Appropria-
ton of S1O,OOO,OOO-So-
ciaIists Distrust and De-
mand Specific Sum.
(By Richard Abercorn.)

London Oct. 12.-That most Eng
occupied with the question of old age
pensions is one of the obvious signs
of the progress of socialism in this
country.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, H.
H. Asquith, has promised to introduce
a government scheme next session and
says he will appropriate two millions
sterling (S10000,O00) for the purpose.
The socialists, as represented at the
recent Trade Union congress, are dis
trustful of any government scheme,
even though it is liberal government
that fathers it, and have demanded
that the state shall provide for the
payment of at least five shiilings
($I25) a week to every man on at
tanning the age of sixty.
Meanwhile, very carefully thought
out proposal is made by Lord Avebury,
better known as Sir John Lubbock,
banker, essayist and naturalist, in con-
junction with several other we'll
known economists.
Their scheme is based on the en-
enlargement and assistance of persons
who are willing to make some sacri-
flee to entitle themselves to pensions.
1t is suggested that the government
should cooperate with the various
friendly societies, receiving from them
the contributions of candidates for pen
sions and allowing interest on them at
3% per cent.
BY commencing at twenty years of
age to pay one pound $50 a year. or
less than ten cents a week, it is shown
that man might entitle himself to a
pension of $1.75 week at the age of
sixty-five if only 2& per cent interest
is allowed but an additional 1 per
cent would add 70 cents to the pension.
At the age of seventy the pensions at
the lower and higher rates Of interest
would be respectively 1886 and $5.16,
so that the pension becomes nearly
SO per cent more at 3A than at 2A
per cent
This extra 1 per cent is additional
to the "a which the government al
lows on friendly societies funds in
vested to the foundation Of the pension
system: and Lord Avebury points out
that even if the total fund collected
were $5O0,000,000 the interest of l per
cent would only amount to half the
sum which Mr.. Asquith has set aside
for the government pension scheme.
Lord Avebury's proposals were de-
nounced at the Trade Union congress
as 'paltry", but it is admitted in the
labor press that it is in theory an ex-
cellent principle but that its weakness
is that it is only theoretically sound.
How many men of the laboring class,
it is asked, would be able to keep up
even the small payment of 10 cents
week for forty-five years. The
scheme wants supplementing by hui
manitarian system which would insure
that every man got his pension.
#--
The London stage is gradually en-
erging from its long period of bratant
Philistraism. thanks to the efforts of
George Bernard Shaw and other peo-
pie with ideas. The latest feature of
the theatrical renaissance is the pro-
ject to open during the coming win
good plays and good acting, and not
stars and scenic display, will be the
chief features.
Miss Gertrude Kingston, who has
been for some years q noted London
actress, will be the manager of the
new playhouse, which will be named
1.-The Little Theatre" 1t will be
housed in concert hall, instead of a
regular theatre. and there will be no
orchestra. The repertoire will consist
of modern plays by clever authors,
which will be produced transformations
ly in an atmosphere of serious art
White mice appear in curious de-
sign which the British Admiralty has
adopted for the flag of the submarine
fleet.
The reason why these little rodents
were chosen as the distinctive sign OF
the submarine flotilla is that white
mice are always carried in submarine
when it goes to sea. They are the
sentinels who give warning of the for
nation of noXious gases inside the yes
sci for they are twenty times more
sensitive to dangerous fumes thar
men.
The submarine flag is a blue, rec
and yellow pennant. divided into foul
quarters. White mice are depicted il
two quarters, a submarine boat in an
other and torpedo in the fourth.
gorgeous Roum&nian embroidery i.
the latest vogue in London, where i
has been introduced by the beautiful