New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
OLD AGE PENSIONS
Contrasts Betreen the British and
German Systems.
London NV 1S.

| London May 10
International comparisons are always hazard
ous Mr. Asquith in his zeal Liberal So
| ciaI reforrner. has underrated the German sys-
ton, Of Insurance against old age He has stated
| that ont of = ropulatfon Of 56.O00.dN0 in the
Fa atrerIand not more than 126.OO0 persons re-
cefved old age pensions last year This IS true 50
far as il goes but the Prime Minister, OF course
unfntentionally. has suppressed the fact tnat old
age and disability pensions go together IN Ger
many and that the latter are not subject 70 any
age limit There we're S37 COO inirn1ity pension
ers in addition 10 the 126Ooo old age pensioners
7 do not have az hand the figures for last year.
but the expenditures for this class Of insurance
in 1895 were f5O3OONO. and probably are in
creasing every year. Nj Asquith in introducing
old age pensions in the United kingdom at an
annual cost of f6GOOOO0 for 100000 applicants
is not ourrtvaIIing Germany so effectively as the
comparison seemed TO indicate. Moreover. con-
sidera bic portion Of the class whom he proposes
10 aid is already receiving assistance from the
poor law administration in the form Of outdoor
relief
This unfortunate comparison brings 10 HSht
one Of the weakest points in the Liberal pen
sion scheme British workrnen are not attracted
by the promise of a pension Of five shillings
week after seventy. They consider it meagre
dole for old age. and great majority Of them
know that they cannot reasonably expect to live
long enough 10 benefit by it Toilers as they
are their most serious risk is from permanent
disa ability. which will unfit them for earning n
living and this may come long before they are
seventy The Liberal pension system does not
offer protection against that risk In Germany
over Is 100000 vorknen. small tradesmen and
employees of limited earning capacity. are in
sured against permanent disability as we'll as
old age One-fourth OF the population is re-
Ileved from anxiety respecting loss or heaItn
and working power This is entirely apart from
risks of accident and temporary sickness which
are provided for by two other systems of insur-
ance From the working age of sixteen men
and women in Germany have the comfortable
feeling that serious emergencies have been fore
stalled. and that by their thrift and the
combined action OF employers and the state
they will always have something to fall back
upon. This is widely different from the five
shilling dole after seventy free gift
a substitute for poor law relief
The advocates OF the Liberal pension scheme
have assumed that the advantages OF the con-
tributory system IN Germany deferred for
a long period. There is a prescribed waiting
time and there has 10 be decisive proof either
OF chronic invalidity OF the old age qualiica-
ton; but the annuites paid with precision
and without legal expense; and there is d sys-
tenn of compensation and rebate by which one
half of the premiums repaid If the workman
insuring himself with the help Of his employer
does not live 10 pass his seventieth year. The
disability pension ranges from ST 5O to S31 sd
in accordance with the classification OF wages.
and the old age pension from $2T 80 to S51 5o.
an imperial subsidy OF ST. 80 having been added
in each instance The bulk OF the fund is sup
piled by the workmen and their employers, and