The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-09
RALLYTO DEFENSE OF
OLD-AGE PENSION PLAIN
Attack by Insurance Statistcan Aouses Mayor Of Boston
and Other Prominent Delegates---Some Live Dis
clssion at Section on Statistics

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CusslOn at Sect
Without being here in person to de-
fcnd his position, Frederick L. Hoff-
man. statistician of the Prudential Life
Insurance Company. attacked the sys-
TEN of oid-agc pensions in a paper
presented to the Section on Statistics
Of the National Conference yesterday.
Being unable TO attend, Mr.. Hoffman
sent his address. which WAS read by
Chairman John Koren, expert special
agent of tho United States Census Bu-
reau His statement that the bounty
removes many Incentives for thrift was
assailcd on all sides. Mayor Hibbard.
of Boston. and others taking particular
exception to that opinion.
Mr.. Hoffman was rather liberal in
the monthly allowances. naming So a
week as the average. He showed that
this sum. paid to all persons in the
United States over sixty years Of age,
would involve an expenditure of sia4.-
100000 annually. Mr.. Roosevelt Page.
member of the Virginia House of
Delegates from Hanover county, said
tho board of supervisors had found
that its appropriation TO aged men and
women. supplemented by supplies from
can't not being moro than S. a month.
but II enabled these peoplefto maintain
themselves outside the almshouse.
Agitation Is Unuisc.
Holding that agitation OF the pension
system is unwisc. Mr.. Hoffman dis
cussed the subject of old age as the
cause of poverty. saying that It is a
world wide condition and requires at
tention at the hands of the charity
societies of the States. THE problem
which confronts society" he continued,
lis whether what is to be done for the
aged poor should rest on sound eco
nomc basis. rather than that the cir
cumstances should be governed by IRA
tional and precarious sentiment. The
subject of State pensions in old age is
attracting considerable amount of
attention in the United States, and a
special commission has been appointed
in Massachusetts to examine into its
practicability In that state. In WIS
consin. Illinois. Florida and other
States attention is being given to the
subject of state insurance upon Vol
untary and compulsory basis. In Eng
land the investigations and reports ma
their most radical embodiment In the
scheme OF Charles Booth for free and
universal ld-age pensions beginning
with the age of siXty-fve, for an
amount of $40 week"
Poverty Due to SquandcrlnE.
Discussing the technical problems OF
the systems in Germany and Austria,
and the system in England. Mr.. Hoff-
man held that the contributing pension
scheme is the only working solution,
adding that measures and means by
which the State system can be avoided
would be more preferable. He said
that much more could be done If the
working people We're educated IN et-
fective methods of thrift.
81 hold" he said, clint the agitation
for State pensions in the United Stntcs
IL ill-ndvised In that the problem Of
poverty in old age, MS generally met
with, is primarily the result of III
spent years, or ilI-spcnt earnings, ar
ill-spcnt savings, ana what Is needed
most IL rational ,educntion In household
economies. The agitation for old-aEe
pensions In truth and In fact Inns not
come from those who would be the
be ne ficiaries under the proposed meas
urcs or plans, hut rather from th0Sc
who feel strongly, but reason badly
upon the facts of the case.
THE chief safeguard against poverty
| and dependence in old age Is thor
oughly sound and well-conducted fam
lily life, such as prevails in the pre-
Il
homes. In this truly lies the strength
of the people. and not In the money il
| the banks, nor. for that matter, lr
policies OF insurance, or In contracts q
annulties. All these are means to a,
| end, but at the root of the problem OF
| poverty and old age lies the proper
conception OF Individual responsibility
and this. no doubt would be weakened
and partly destroyed by reliance upor
| Stata SinnOrt In old Ge.'5
Mayor Hibbard for Old Men.
With the statement that he had come
here to learn, Mayor George A. Hib-
bard, Of Boston, attacked the assertion
| of Mr.. Hoffman that old-age pensions
destroy the incentive for thrift among
working people. IT am disappointed
with Mr.. Hoffman's paper" said Mayor
Hibbard. my eight years experience
as postmaster convinces me that ! car
declare unquallhedly for the old-age
|pensolb especially for government en-
lployes, which would mean the saving
of money About the question of city
employees I am not so we'll informed
Before leaving BOSTON ! directed that
q list of old employees be secured. To-
day my private secretary telegraphed
me that there were TOO men working
FOR the city who are more than sixty
wears old. This whole question in
| wolves a serious problem. How Is the
| day lahorer going to save money for
lhis declining years when the cost OF
|living i, so great and wages are at tbs
lminimuml2
you must do one Of three things