The Washington times., 1910-01-17


worked. and how beneficial II has been
No scheme ever bro IghC before par
lament was more sJrenuOusly opposed
than was this The only thing Its Op-
ponents argued, which could be postC-
lated with certainty about the scheme
was its absolute uncertainty in every
respect.
To BEGIN with. a number Of unqualified
persons succeeded in getting their dollar
and a quarter for a week, or may Be a
few weeks, but such cases were remark
ably few. and they were soon found
out and punished as a lesson 70 others
II is interesting 10 note what the pen
sions have meant 10 the working popu-
IatiGn Of the country The latest figures
available are for the nine months ended
September so 1902 They are
Pensioners Sums Paid
England and Wales TO 43l,532 S1s.56S, IS5
Ireland ------------.----- Ise @93 S6l9-5 $751;
CCOLldnQ .--------------- t0-lo+ osut5s 10
Thousands Helped
Thus at the present tine nearly 20. 90
old folk are being refreshed Then Il
Is not only the pensioners themselves
VINO are benefited b. this distribution Of
state IarEess- Tie pensions have been
a perfect boon 20 the small shoDkeeue-s.
Just, as an instance, -ake al random
the case q Sz--5-Sez q suburb which
IS fairly representative q London 5
working cas- population They have
there about $50 Pensioners who have
nearly Szz55 q Ez=z u s-zlL. and this
money Is ---Tz--z--- -zEE CIT IN the small
shops o. --s C-S----
IN such ---z- districts. where the
wages range ---- --= miserable pit
lance OF $50 @ 80 G week. and where
the proportion o aged poor is very
high Il needs 10 vivid Imagination 70
understand what z dollar and a quarter
weekly is 10 the helpless DOOR. But
however smoothly the old age pensions
act may appear 70 be working, the
house Of commons Is not yet done with
the question
Sir John Pnter. one Of the leading
members Of the English colony in Paris.
and who Is Interesting himself in d
SIMILAR scheme for France, has been
the means Of getting a new bill laid
on the table Of the house Of commons,
evidently for the purpose Of amending
The act which has been In operation
for q year Here are the proposed pro
visions OF Sir Johns scheme
J. That every boy and girl, on attain
ing the age Of fifteen years. shall re
ceIve g pension book Of the value of $50,
10 form part Of the capital which, at
the age OF htJy-One. shall produce his
OF her pension
That a further sum OF $50 shall Be
added TO the pension capital as an en-
couraEeuenI for betteTueut in educa-
ton, technical knowledge and good
CIT Zenship-
3 That an military and naval service
accomplished shall be acknowledged.
and So added 10 the pension capital for
each years service
Money for Each Child.
D. That married women shall have
their pension accounts credited with So
for each Of their children attaining the
sse of FIVE years
3. That every act OF heroIsm and ev-
erything to the advantage Of the indi-
viduaI shall be recorded IN the pension
The pension. put within the reach Of
every one, exceeds 81 a week from the
age az ffty-fve, and s. week from
the age OF sixty-fiye-
The number Of persons benefited under
the Government Old age pensions act IS
approximately 10000 Under Sir John
PLIERS scheme =, 10000 would benefit
The piVOL of the whole scheme Is Of
course, the pension book, which regis
tiers every favorable act in person s
life His nisCeeds are not recorded
The citizen begins his career as pen
sioner at the age Of fifteen for at that
age he is handed his precious book,
which is to be his guide and waybiI
through life
It contains his photographs taken
each year so that his identity can easily
be established, and subsequently records
acts Of herois-l and certificates Of mill
rary service and Workmanship. as well
as proficiency in trade. All these good
marks are accompanied by money
grants, so that the capital sum Of $3.50
with which he Is credited at the moment
Of receiving the book is constantly be
Ag added 70, together with the interest
paid on II
Young Men Contribute
The youth himself has to contribute
from the very irst moment, regularly
OF irreguIarIy, the greatest latitude
being allowed in This respect PraCtI-
calIy his contributions amount 70 SO
a year
In connection with old age pensions il
Is interesting tc turn TO pensions which
some members Of the British nobility
receive. pensions which they get through
no personal merit, pensions which they
do not require and which the country
Is. Of course, taxed TO meet
tOT instance the new LORD Rodney,
who IS IN his nineteenth year, inherits
with his title the annuity of S10,0O0,
which was granted BY act Of DaTlia-
U6nT IN the time OF George III to the
first baron and his successors" This
y as TIE nduCn s 2Cknowled gmenL OF the
victory achieved by the distinguished
naval commander, Admiral George Rod
ney, over he French feet IN T-S2-
The annuity has already been paid for
u years representing S1,2T0a00 and
there IS no prospect Of its early dis
continuance It Is one Of the surviving
hereditary pensions. the most fOruida be
of which IS the $500 = Z-aa- T,e,z-sI'1e 20
the holder OF the Nelson earldon 50
long as the title shall subsist-
The heirs OF the Duke Of SchomberE.
william ITS famous lieutenant. still
draw $500 a year s.i7 DerDef1Jff,- .
other hereditary pensions CONFERRED Tor
naval or rnlltary services include those
by Lord Cough Lord Raglan Lord
Seatcn, and Lord Napier of STsE7sis
LORD OrofQer, who unsuccessfuliy
moved the rejection Of the old age pen-
sions bill IN the House Of LORDS. is him
SELF il receipt OF a pension 80 e. 90 =
year, and IN 1907 received a pifr Of s77a :
90 from the nation