New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
ENGLISH JNIoNIsM
,..IJess Legislation and Increased
Social Discomfort.
London. September Q.

sPslu1-. = xss-ar government has committed
ssrio' = ~ wasteful and demoralizing
ne ANe $50 without making any attempt TO
rns' ,hs+ has been done in Germany and
f1o o. +-ses and TO count the cost The
ehe lion congress at Nottingham accepts
TrsHe q beggariy dole and clamors for
tn - v,hsch will enable workmen to retire
r.i,.. service at sixty instead OF seventy
10" ,,.-o-7,e pensioners of the state This
enc = .s.,,-a body calls for the removal of all
-. in the existing law and the reduc-
.be age limit Of pensioners by ten years
90 cslculating either the expense or the
TluiO- - revenue for financing social reform.
fuiee-,.r,s own estimate for old age pensions
Nj - will probably be carried as hign as
ST sese,.cs ,,sr the present law is put in oper
and he has calculated roughly that r.
siio'A - The axe limit TO sixty would involve
.sstional burden Of slootoo'o"- How the
81 - - he raised nobody knows nor seems
nOi's There is only q vague impression that
70 c. he taxed with cumulative force with
csiaia' - industrial paralysis. and that the
GU '''a 90, he compelled 10 pay for pensions
ids u seer wasteful legislation, instead Of
10 s,r gratitude, encourages speculative
Hlst- Of bankrupting the treasury
- assumed that the enlargement of the
pe's'0 ha financed. either with or without
EEL -oso-rn. VIII there be a cessation of agi-
slI = additional extensions? Nobody can
tsaoH r. watches the signs of the times
eene' .,-b with organized labor There will
sn' - demands after every fresh conces-
e - - &c already an unmistakable trend
soA' ro.fsIis+ agitators and, trade unionist
So .ozrard an invalidity pension without
fNo There Is 4 general demand that the
az hall ne allowed whenever the worker
pas. ..i-s+ed from any cause and without
- - age thrift irnprovidence or any
s,-+o- The German workman has this
O'i'' = reserve at his option. and the
. ,-Lr7,s- wants il also. with a more
--aatlv allowance 10 live upon ana
-. obligation Of contributing himself
,.-eencv in s1Irance fund II the Not
congress has not formulated the de-
- Cor q general invalidity pension it VIII De
~ soue future parliament OF organized
- Already q resolution has been brought
- in favor Of state maintenance or chill
a., Tho cannot be adequately fed. reared and
-.,o,,sd owing TO the poverty, vices, ignorance
: -,is4o-+uues OF their parents That also is
,-onosaIs for q widows and orphans
- uhich are under consideration in Ger
h,,+ the Qualifying conditions of con-
.f.,,+,-, effort and self-help are recklessly ex-
GUIDED.
II * not necessary for any commentator on the
Ia. schemes Of English social reform TO IN
gb against trade unionism as represented by
g, animal labor parliament. have not at
-,n5a5 the Nottingham sessions. but have often
hs- spectsto- at these assemblies and have
,-vsrisblv been impressed with the debating
r.vs- Of the delegates the practical intelligence
q the leaders and the dignity Of the proceedings
Esbo5r can doubt that trade unionism has been
& bsiuful invigorating agency in organizing
-iOn and improving the condition of working
England II II has been tainted at times with
,,S,Hr II has also represented the con-
ss-7slsn Of the toiling millions Of the kingdom
snow reaching out after costly and de-
rng-sizing experiments Of social reform, bad
szsnple has been set by legislators il enacting
sus without forecasting clearly the details in
5rsrstion and the effects in the relations OF
masters and men and the burdens 10 be carried
Il taxpayers When ministers responsible for
ne ordering and direction Of public policies take
hrfaE lean in the dark IL is not surprising
tbst labor agitators are found wool gathering
m the trade union congress. II is hardly rea-
snsble n EXPECT trade unionists who have
cone I'D from The bottom and trained themselves
Is speakers. organizers and thinkers TO be more
csurous .fnanciers and more sober-minded con-
ss-7arives in social reforms than ministers OF
Tie Crown
Twenty wears ago in Germany the foundations
ware laid for q system Of emergency insurance
which would protect workers against the risks
Of accident. sickness. disability and enfeebled
old age The details were thought out with
Characteristic tho-oughness. and the cost 10 the
nzrion was calculated with precision The state
nov contributes S14oO00G0 out Of Sl10Nopgo
distributed annually for accident risks, sick
Jay and pensions for old age and disability; and
when the list Of pensioners Is materially en-
srged and the widows and orphans are
ADDED. the cost II the nation viii not exceed
s-9ga6D0 out q an annual expenditure Of
sfat00aoo These enormous payments at low
CO.. 10 the fatherland are practicable because
slgoyers and men are systematic contributors
e tn Insurance and pension funds Public
opinion has not been unsettled by the system
hor has the self-respect OF the workers them
ssfyes been impaired. They are compelled TO
Asure themselves against the commonest risks
Of workers life. and they profit by their own
aritt and forethought and are not degraded by
ne acceptance Of state charity. Their employ
IS help them out in the triple system Of insur-
enoe and cooperate with them in the manage
lsni Of the various funds This makes good
f77ilng between masters and men, and tends TO
EonaoTe peace in the industrial world The SO
"a Avs are safeguards against the cruder and
aars visionary forms Of socialism. They are
aepng 10 develop conservatism among German
wage Gamers
Il England social reforms have not been
.10aght out Tith any practical intelligence. a
r7lS'ons IAN has been abruptly adopted, under
~ impression that . start was necessary for
1-l'osl reasons and that the system could be
~a'ged, modified and reformed in the course Of
The nation win pav fer old age pensions
1se2 three times as much as the German gov
aneat expends for z vastly superior system