Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-09
coMpULsARY INSURANCE.

While some OF our own states arc
wrestling with the problem of insurine
the safety of bank deposits, as by tn,
guaranty plan in several of them
England and Germany are carrying
compulsory Insurance against unem-
ployment into the ranks OF the lower
paid working classes.
Compulsory insurance OF working
men against sickness and accident, as
well as insurance for old age, has been
in operation in Germany for twenty
been to raise the level of comfort Tor
workers and to lessen their liability TO
poverty In old age.
The effect of this insurance upon the
medical profession Is peculiar. Since
a large share of the population is no
WILL the physicians now being engaged
by the officials of insurance organiza-
tions, there is keen competition to Sc
cure the posts of medical officers in
the different insurance funds. More
over. some of those who secure these
positions nrc said to render perfume
tory and inadequate service. The stimu-
lus OF doing his best to win the conf
dence of each patient, as well as his
family and friends. is no longer felt
| On the part of some of the insured, 1t
| is alleged that there is tendency to
abuse their ability to command the
| services Of doctor to an almost un-
| limited extent and to summon him at
any hour of the day or night on the
slightest pretext.
An unpleasant feature of the ply
sician's duties is, likewise. the necessity
OF assuming the role OF detective. In
order effectually to combat any tenden-
cy there may be toward malingering,
which is a grave problem In connection
with workmen's insurance.
AS whole 1t Is felt that this reform.
admirable in many ways, has brought
about a distinct lowering of the total
compensation for professional service.
It is true that large number of in
dividuals who were formerly treated
as charity patients are, under the new
conditions. enrolled in the ranks of
the Insured. and certain remuneration
for their treatment is now received by
the attendant physician. But it is
also claimed that n much larger num-
ber, whose modest fees formed an i'm
portant part of a doctors income, are
now furnished with free treatment as
insured, and that the difference in COM
pensation now received by contract
physicians for this category of patients
much more than counterbalances the
increased receipts from the flrst-men-
toned class.
There is no tendency towards the dis
continuance of this kind OF compulsory
insurance. Consul Norton reports that
there is steady movement looking
to the introduction of the advantages
of state compulsory insurance among
clerks and employees receiving higher
salaries than the maximum fixed by the
present law S476). Each step in this
direction removes from the circle of
customary patients large group from
whose life the family physician" dis
appears.
On account, however, of the probable
standards among physicians. a modih-
cation of existing regulations is ad-
vooatcd. Some system that will per-
nit the benefciaries of the system to
have free choice of their medical ad-
visers would seem to be necessary IL
the dignity. usefulness, and high stand
ards of the physician are to be safe
guarded. 1t is urged that he should
be freed from competition In the more
purely commercial sense of the term,
and that the competition should be
limited. as In the past. to the devel-
opment of professional skill and of
those qualities of head and heart which
contribute almost as much to the ply
sician's success as his technical attain
ments.
The same question is receiving a
great deal of attention in England.
There the question seems to be
whether or not to make insurance
against unemployment compulsory in
certain industries 1t is thought that
the proposed legislation. as recently
outlined by the president of the Bri-
tish Board of Trade, will embody these
cardinal features-it Will be compuI-
sorry, contributory, and specialized as
to different groups of trades.
1t is claimed that the futility of
voluntary schemes OF insurance
against unemployment have been
caused by the fact that the majority
of those interested In such schemes
have been themselves out of employ
ment. and consequently unable to
make the necessary payments. Contri-
buttons from employer and employee
are regarded as essential in order to
secure stability and permance to the
undertaking, and 1t is believed that
the wage-earner, with the assurance
that he VIII be provided for In time
Of misfortune and distress. will be
less inclined to engage In strikes. and
that large measure of peace will
be thereby obtained for tho Industrial
world.
The division into trades. 1t Is urged,
will solidify the interests of employers
and employees. and If there should
be depression in one trade the scale
of contributions or allowance could be
changed without affecting other in
dustries
II Is proposed first to insure the
worklnsmen In those trades that have