The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-07-29
FORCED THROUGH DESPITE
OPPOSITION OF TORIES
BOuntIeS For Over Halt Million
Men and Women Above
Age Of Seventy

London, July '29-old-age pensions
SO often talked about and so often
promised during English political
campaigns, viii become an accomp.
lishei fact in England January J.,
1902.
On that date ne pension bill of the
liberal government introduced by Mr..
Asqulth, the premier, and forced
through despitsA,e obstructive tactics
of the tories, ~1fHNh into effect. When
the liberal goverBReht introduced the
bill it was assailed on all sides as
being purely socialistic Socialstic
or not it has passed its third read
ing in the commons and has been sent
up to he house of lords, who may be
depended upon to 10 all they can to
nullify the benefcient provisions Of
iho bill
With 25.00000 of the population Of
the kingdom earning barely sufficient
to Keep them on the lowest "comfor
line the old-age pension bin was
grievously needed One of the sad
dest aspects Of line in the great cities
of England is to see the myriads Of
aged men and women who are on the
brink of starvation who have naught
to look forward to, after lives of sob
uety and Industry but death in the
poo, house.
Bounties for 100000.
On January / over 100000 men and
women above the age oil seventy wa
receive bounues from the state of
sums from s1.25 to 25 cents a week
The cost to the country of this mea-
sure ii is estimated. will be thirty
million dollars the first year ami pos
sibly more.
Mr. Asquith has estimated that in
lhe United Kingdom there are 1,246-
000 persons of seventy years of age
and over and that out OF this total
here ere 572.00Q people eligible Tor
pensions.
The qualifications for pensions are
that the pensioner must have attained
the aga of seventy He must for
twenty years have been a British sub
iect and have resided for that period
in he United Kingdom,
The provisions for disqualification
have been considerably amplihed
very strong section relating to dis
qualifications states that no man shall
receive a pension who has habitually
failed to work according TO his abil-
i,y, opportunity or needs for the main
tenance of himself and those leoeNr
dependent upon MIN. The strong body
OF benefit societies. trades unions aas
sbef fratarnal organizations succeed.
ed In having a liberal amendment to
this action introduced, and by it no
man VINO Tor ten years has made pay
ments to friendly or proyident socie-
ties shall be disqualified.
Those Who Are Disqualified.
Lunatics. paupers, criminal insane
nd persons sentenced TO imprlson-
ment without the option of a fine will
De disqualified during detention and
for further period of ten years after
release.
The pensions are inalienable and
viii be paid weekly The machinery
for the distribution of pensions con
templates a local pension committeI =
for every country, borough and urban
district with a population Of over 90,
000 The central pension authority
is to be tne local government board
and pension officers will be appoint
ell by the treasury.
Amongst the penalties to be infiict
ca in six months az hard labor toI
any person making a false sta emen'
in order to obtain a pension.