New-York tribune., 1910-02-27
IN AID or WORKMEN
Industrial Insurance on In
crease IN German.
LFrom a Tribune Correspondent


Berlin, Feb Ito the many forms of
industrial assurances now in successful
operation throughout Germany, several
Prussian municipalities purpose adding an
insurance for the unemployed. The plan
most likely to be followed will be upon the
lines laid down in Cologne and Ghent
The principles underlying the system in
Client are mainly these: The insurance of
the unemployed lies primarily with the
wOrkngmen's associations. To the amount
paid to q beneficiary by these organiza-
tions, the municipalities add 30 per cent of
it when it is shown that the mans nom
employment is due to no fault of his own.
such as a strike or a lockout The citv's
contribution, however, IS not to exceed a
mark daily. Questions arising as to the
reasons of employment. whether by
fault Of the employer or employe ere to be
decided by jury, consisting of EMPLOYERS
aud men, with reutral presiding officer
having the deciding vote. This Jury. or
commission, also acts as An agent between
the unemployed and the citys employment
agency, besides deciding the amount of
financial aid, travelling expenses and SINH
lar questions
The question of the adding of municipal
financial aid to the sums paid out by the
Workingmen'S associations to their mem
bers first arose in Client almost ten years
ago. A special fund was raised for the
purpose of aiding workingmen out of en-
ployment. The workingmen's associations
or unions, as We would call them in Amer-
ca, who desire to participate in the bene-
fits of this fund must inform the trustees.
condition precedent is a clear differentia-
ton between aid for strikers and those
without legitimate employment As to the
unions must have definite printed rules and
regulations.
Aid is only extended in cases of involuu
tary, complete or partial unemployment
and in cases where men are out of en-
ployment in consequence of the destruction
by fire of factory buildings. and so on. For
no longer a period than sixty consecutive
days is aid given in any one year The
amount to be given varies with conditions
and aid can only be extended to man who
has dwelt in the city for month at
least
In order to enable workngmen who are
not organized members of any union
to be beneficiaries, communal savings
fund was created and the participants in
this fund were aided to the same extent as
were the aided members of any union The
unorganiZed workingman was compelled TO
procure a savings handbook (pass book If
he became without employment and drew
upon his savings he would receive financial
assistance but only after he had been a
member of the savings fund for at least
three months. and could only draw upon
savings which had been deposited at least
three months prior to losing his position
The system in Cologne rejoices in a rather
lcng-winded title. 1t calls itself the Fund
City of Cologne" This fund is raised by
contributions from patrons the insured.
the City of Cologne, societies, associations,
employers and so ANY one can become
a patron by single contribution of 800
marks almost S75).
Any male person over eighteen years OF
fge rot depending for his living on any
one else can become of the insured
Persons unable to adduce proof of regular
employment and ''odd jCb men are not
admitted 10 membership.
The weekly dues amount 10 So pfennigs
for unskiled and 45 pfenngs for skilled
wnrkmen. \ member can begin drawing
upon the fund within three days after loss
of employment, and after 1t has been shown
that his non employment is involuntary.
Aid, however. will not lie given for longer
than eight consecutive weeks.
The daily stipend am ounts to , marks for
the first twenty days of unemployment
and for the remainder of the time / mark
a day. Sundays and holidays are not IN
cludeG
The town of Sch6neberg which is one of
the independent municipalities of the
greater city OF Berlin" has just elected a
commission, which is to examine into and
report upon the merits OF the two systems
alluded TO above