The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-08-03

He asserts tha through a thousand
complex ways the country SPENDS q
greater amount to relieve the desta-
tuition of the aged than hi his bill
asks. 1T is. tinsE< now" he says,
that we met the problem in a scien-
tifc and economical way"
Berger also introduced a bill today
providing for the creation of a COM
mission composed of members of the
three parties IN Congress to compile
detailed data on the subject of old
age pensions. The commission is to
settle the details of administration.
The Socialist Congressman expects
to wage an incessant campaign for the
passage of this measure.
Mr.. Ber0er's Statement On His Old
Age Pension Bill.
The working men and working wo-
men of this country-the men and wo-
men 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 receive
in return for their labor so small a
part OF what they produce that all of
1t is expended in merely keeping alive,
Since the average wage in our u
try is probably not more than $40 a
| yCdl. L IL ooNlouS tIliI IL Is lIHpOSSlUle
for three-fourths of the population to
save up from their wages anything for
old age.
n working class is not better off
in the matter of wages in any other
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 ma
ton. Germany. Denmark, Italy, Aus
trla, Great Britain, France, Canada.
Australia and New Zealand have all
enacted UGH laws.
AS 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 genera old-age pen
sion law. The Republican party put
such a plank in it's platform of 1900,
but the Republican Congress did
nothing in the matter, and the plank
has disappeared from subsequent plat
forms.
Everybody in America readily under
stands why soldiers are entitled to
pensions. 1t is because soldiers rend-I
er 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 railroads,
in the mines. factories and other in
dustries in our country is approx
in any one year of our great
Civil War, with all it's terrific bat
ties.
Moreover, the work of the soldier
of industry is infinitely more neces-
sary than the bloody work of the sold
Ter on the battle field. Most of the
b performed must be performed
every day and every hour. or our civil
lization would stop.
The old-age pension bill which l in
troduce is therefore a measure of
simple justice. It is also an express
sion Of the growing demand for the
taking care Of the veterans If indus
OF whom have become in
valids through occupational diseases
which were the inevitable
of their toll.
My bill does not go into the admin
istrative details and does not try to
provide for the many complex situa-
tionS that may arise in the operation
of such lazy.
ne uetallS VIII nave to be settled |
by a commission to be appointed for
that purpose. l am introducing at the
same time a bill for the creation OF
such a commission.
Four dollars a week is to be the
basic figure of the pension for every
man and woman.
The ratio of persons more than 50
years old in the 1900 census, when ap-
piled to the 1910 census, would give
about $500 900 persons.
1t is that 1000, 900 of these
are foreign born or have been citizens
sixteen years.
1t is further assumed that $500, 900
Of these. either by the ownership or
use of property, or the receipt of in
come 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.
Approximately 2.5Ov, 900 of the re-
maiTder are married and living to-
gether. and as such married couple
counts only as one person and a half,
there would be a further reduction of
625, 600 persons. This would leave a
remainder of 2.675,O0O persons to be
roy,ci0ro