The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-08-03
MHY | INTRODUCED
AGED PENSION BILL.
IN CONGRESS
Wisconsin Congressman Says It Is
Impossible for Three-Fourths Of
People To Save Anything for
Declining Years.
Germany, Denmark, italy, Austria,
Great Britain and Other Countries
Have Provided Protection.
nv VICTOR 4. BERGER.
Socialist Congressman from M'lWau-
LII. vIcFoR z. BEhGEh.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-Most
working men in our country receive
in return for their labor 80 smaii
a part Of what they produce that all
Of Il Is expended In merely Keeping
alive. Since the average wage Is
probably not more than 500 year,
Il IA obvious that IL Is Impossible
for three-fourths OF the population
20 save up from their wages anything
for old axe unless they want to 1--we
ike Chniamen, which, or course.
would diminish trade and make hard
times" :. =
The working class is not better
OF 3n-the matter Of wages -in-any
o.her country. But In many otner
countries the duty TO society 10 the
aged II recognized. Old age pension
laws have been passed In Germany
Denmark, Italy, Austria, Great Btu.
ain, France, Canada, Australia anu
New Zealand.
A usual, where legislation for the
protection OF the working class -
concerned, the United States Is lag
cling behind. No state In the union
has 90 far enacted q general old age
pension law. The Republican party
put such q plank In Its platform OF
1900. but the Republican congress-
did nothing In the matter, and the
plank has disappeared from subse-
Quent platforms.
Everybody IN America readily UNI
dorstands why shoulders are tnuleo
10 pensions. It % because soldiers
render service on the field OF bat
tie. which n considered dangerous
70 lie and limb. But very few peo-
ple realize that the number Of men
killed and MANNED every year on
the railroads. I'm the mines, factories
and other industries IN our country
ii approximately equal TO the num-
Der killed and wounded In any one
wear OF our great civil war, with al
fts terrific battles.
Moreover. the work of the soldier
OF industry 10 infinitely more neces-
sary than the bloody work OF the
soldier ON the battlefield. Most OF
the labor performed must be per-
formed every day and every hour,
or our civilization would stop.
The old age pension bill which !
introduced - therefore q measure OK
simple Justice. II IL also an express
sion OF the growing demand for the
taking care OF the veterans Of indus
try, many Of whom have become In
valids through occupationai diseases
which were the inevitable conse-
Quence Of their toll.
Ny bin does not 60 into the adj
minisfratiye details and does not try
to provide FOR the many complex
situations that may arise In the OBJ
Grafton Of such law.
The details viii have to be settled
by q commission TO be appointed for
that purpose. introduced at the
SANE time q bill for the creation OF
such q commission.
Four dollars q week is TO be the
basic figure Of the pension for every
man and woman. .le
Approximately 2,675.000 persons
would be pensioned under the terms
OF this bill.
The cost Of the pension scheme
would be about $347 100000 yearly.
This sum may be staggering to
some good folk who believe In
cheap government and I'm everybody
taking care OF himself. But IL our
nation can pay yearly s121, 000, 900
for ! navy, $4,000. 900 Tor an army
and 5000, 900 for pensioning war
peterans-a total Of 1881, 0oo, 0oo--it
should certainly be able to pay an
equal sum to pension its veterans Of
industry.
A. matter Of fact. We pay o
great deal more than this sum for
this purpose now. The total expendi.
lures made In q thousand complex
ways by nation, state. county, mum.
cfpaiity and private agency I'm reliey.
ing the 0eet1tution OF the aged would
II properly computed, show an enorm.