The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-31
SOCIAL REFORM m ENGLAND.


University. The Lecture Il printed In the
current number q the Poiitioqi Science
Quarterly. u is a survey by a prominent
Liberal ~ the great complex % hnmani-
tartan reforms advocated by HE party
In England. The Liberal reform pro-
Gramms calls FOR noteworthy extension
II the activities Il the Government u
aims not merely 10 relieve distress hut
tO improve the general economic Eitua-
ton Of tho working classes tts ultimate
intention Il IN advance the industui efec-
tivenoss Of the nation by eliminating the
preventahle waste of national energy
which is Oocasionod by chronic poverty.
For some time now England has been
exposed 20 a heightened measure of com
petition frum progressive neighboring
oo'Intries. Germany especially. AZ well as
from the United States. lts ladders of
industry have been forced IN revias their
methods II production. Labor saving
appliances have besn introduced and
economies have bcen devised IN every
quarter. The individual output ol the
workman has hen increased and the total
quantity AZ wealth produced is far greater
than Il has ever heen heretofore. but the
modenized industrial processes have ~
duoed the demand for labor. The propor-
ton Of unemployment hiss grown 80 large
as 10 he a serious menace. Able bodicd
workmen by the thousands are reduced
70 a preoarious existence depandent on
odd jOls. Owing 70 irregrladty Of en-
pioyment and meagre earnings many
families are breaking up the aged and
Invalid members beOOming a charge on
the public. In ieOS the numl,sr of paupers
In the United kingdom was i.Iss.OOO. or
nearly p pr cent. Of the population. ~,
The spread u poverty led % the APP
pointment 81 a royal Poor Law COmnis-
sion. tho report % which IL one of the most
exhaustive public documents ever issued.
lts work was supplemented by thar Of an
other commission. which inquired into
the operation of the income tax. The
evidence plaoed hefore these commissions
was Of startling character u showed
that the number Of persons assessable
under the income tax was only .2sO. OOO. or
virtually the same a. the number of na
pers in reoeipt Of outdoor and indoor re-
lief Estates duties and income taxes
are paid by every one who Possesses
Pnuperty or enjoys a yearly incone ex-
cseding Eieo. q sum equal %. say, ssOn.
The Income ~ thOse who paid incdme
Iaxes in lOOs was fsso.O1O. 90. Tho in
come Of the rest II tho population was
fpOO. OOO.OaO.
Assuming an average 81 five persons
20 the family 81 each persun subject To
the income tax. II u seen tina, tho income
tax paying class includes only e.7SO boz
persons in a population of about Is. an. on
Nearly one-half Of the nations income Is
received by less than 10 per cent. q the
poptflatiOn and only slightly more than
One-haR Of the nations Income 10 received
BY the remaining ~ per cent
Mr.. Paish adds.
Further would ASA you 10 note that The wealth
Of Great britain 4 estimated b. sir Huhert Gina
and also b. myself N amount 20 over fis 90 u
on land ! cairuiae that ~ Increase 81 TIE rate
Of iop per cent stefy thirty three yrars and tat
M great wealth 4 ouncd almost entirely b, u
Der cent Of ne population. few Der.
sons are acrhmulating wealth. a. q very rapid rat
and nc waErs Of TIE masses are ~ IoW mat ths,
are able 70 maize only he smallest provision
against misfortune and Old age = thus
ne had brought Into iuGtaposition ne encreding
poverty Of great aumbers Of the psopls Of our
oouniry and. an NJ other hand. ne enormou.
wealth. Of q small number Consequently. II
beoamt apparent 70 every oae vho followed the
course Oi public aiAirs thAtfhs existing situation
uas dangerous both 10 ma STATE and 10 Ne wealthy
classes themselves, and that something must he
done in order 10 diminish the worsi evils rom
Shich ne masses Of our couh irymcn suffer
A. to the necessity for action. Mr.
Paish says, there was no difference Of
opinion between Liberals and Con.erva-
tives. The Conservatives. however. main
tanned that srhene II tariff revision
looking n protection would augment
trade. eliminate unemployment and raise
wages The Liberals. on the contrary.
saw no connection between the existing
high percentage of unemployment and
free trade. which for sixty years has
helped England o. maintain its position
a. the first industrial nation in the world.
and declared In favor u social rather
than fiscal reforms A programme vas
drawn up 10y the Liberals cmbosiyinR a
series Il measures through which il is
hoped 70 prevent that economic waste
which now results from misfortune.
The chief sources u waste are: 90 old
age; ca inability TO get work. owing 10
trade depression or other causes. "a
inoapacity % work in consequence N IN
health. and a. tho loss which the family
suffers from the death Of It's hreadwinner.
The Liberals proposed measures Of re-
lief with respect to each u these items
and. in addition, planned 20 extend the
school age for children In order 20 add
two years Of industrial training 20 the
elementary school course. The result
vas a legislative programme providing
for old age pensions, for public employ
ment bureaus and for unemployment.
invalidity and widowhood ASSURANCE.
The theory u the old are pension sys-
TEN, which has heen severely criticized.
Is explained by Mr.. Paish thus
The old age pensions call for the paynen, "a
persons Of over 20 ycars OF age ofa maximum sam
Of I'VE shiiilnRs a week the rate Of p~asIan DE-
dining income Increases IN order that the rnAHi
sun Income and pension shall not etceea mir
teen shlillnrs . wesk. This pension i granted
apparently without any contribution whatever
from those uho rscsi,e 10. ! ad,tsodiy .ay an
parently. hecauue you Wtil appreciate hat no
one can live upoa I'VE shiilnGs q ueek and that
u any peFson IL 70 eaioy thr pension and remain
out Of ~ workhouss he must ~ I'm osW efforts
o. b. me cuntrihurlans Of Ms children supplement
ne pension b. sueh q som that BE- ran maintain
himself. Therefore. although those rerelvInE
~ pension do not egntribute 70 Ire GaFsrnw~nt.s