Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-08-10

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women of this country-the men and
women who create all the wealth and
make civilization possible for every
body-are entitled to be taken care
of in their old age. Most OF them re-
ceiye in return for their labor so small
part of what they produce that all
of it is expended In merely keeping
alive. Since the average wage in our
country is probably not more than
$500 a year, it is obvious that it IS
impossible for three-fourths of the
population to save up from their
wages anything for old age.
"The working class is not better of
in the matter of wages in anyssother
country. But in many of the other
countries the duty Of society to the
aged is recognized. Old-age pension
laws have been passed in the princi-
pal nations Of Europe, in the Anti
podes and even in one American coun-
try. Germany, Denmark. Italy, Aus
tria, Great Britain, France. Canada,
Australia and New Zealand have all
enacted such laws.
CAS- usual, where legislation for the
protection of the working class Is con-
cerned, the United States is tagging
behind. No state in the Union has so
far enacted a general old-age pension
law. The Republican party put such
plank in it's platform of 1900, but
the Republican Congress did nothing
in the matter, and the plank has dis
appeared from subsequent platforms.
Everybody in America readily I'M
derstands why soldiers are entitled
to pensions. It is because soldiers
render service on the field OF
battle which is considered dangerous
to life and limb. But very few people
realize that the number of men killed
and manned every year on the rail-
roads, in the mines, factories and
other industries in our country is ap-
proximately equal to the number kill
ed and wounded in any one year OF
our great Civil War, with all its terri
fic battles.
Moreover, the work Of the soldier
of industry is infinitely more neces-
sary than the bloody work. OF the
soldier on the battle field. Most OF
the labor performed must be perform
ed every day and every hour, or our
civilization would stop.
"The old-age pension bill which !
| introduce is therefore measure of
simple justice. 1t is also an express
sion Of .the growing demand for the
taking care of the veterans of indus
Itry-many of whom have become IN
ualids through occupational diseases,
which were the inevitable conse-
quence of their toll.
MY bill does not go into the ad-
administrative details and does not try
to provide for the many complex sit
uations that may arise in the opera
ton of such a law.
"The details will have to be settled
! by commission to be appointed for
that purpose. am introducing at
THE same time a bill for the creation
of such a commission.
4 "Four dollars a. week is to be the
basic figure of the pension for every
man and woman.
/ = sThe ratio of persons more than 60
years old in the 1900 census, when
applied to the 1910 census, would
give about 100000 persons.
at is assumed that 100000 Of these
are foreign born or have not been
citizens sixteen years..
at is further ASSUMED that 1,500,-
900 or these, either by the ownership
or use of property, or the receipt of
incomes above the limit designated, or
because they are already in receipt
of civil, military or naval pensions,
or because they are in some way dis
qualified, will not come under the
terms of the act. An
approximately 100000 of the re-
mainder are married and living to-
gether, add as such married couple
counts only as one person and a half,
there would be further reduction of
$4,000 persons. This would leave a
remainder of 2,675,000 persons to be
pensioned. "a
CAS- the average pension would
range somewhere about $3.50 week,
1.-THE cost Of the pension scheme would
be about $S47, 100000 yearly.
This sum may be staggering to
some people who believe in cheap
government and in everybody taking
care of himself. But If our nation.
can pay yearly s1s1, 100000 for a
navy. $s5.O0o,OOO for an army and
{ Xxx nm mn for iy.oncioniRcr war vafyar.