Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25
CALLS i. S. BEHIND
This Country Only Civilized
One Without Pension System.
Statement OF Committee
Former Senator Charles Dick Tells
Of Methods Adopted by Pri-
vate Concerns.
STATEMENT OF committee

While the United States is practically
the only government Of a civilized people
which does not maintain D civil pension
system, 1t is pointed out by another of
the series of statements prepared and
made public by former Senator Charles
Dick. as director Of the committee Of 100
which is striving for civil service retire
ment, that private corporations are not SC
far behind as the government. This latest
statement, dealing. with civil pension sys-
TENS in effect in the United States, fol-
lows:
I'm these articles mention has been
made OF the chief features Of the civil
pension systems maintained by European
government and in operation in q few
other countries, from which it appears
that the United States Is practically the
only one Of the leading nations of the
world which does not maintain such q
system.
'.Civil pensions are not unknown in
the United States. for they are main
tanned in q considerable number Of the
larger cities for the benefit of teachers
and members Of the police and fire de-
partments The only class of labor in
which probably a majority of those en-
ployed enjoy the benefits Of pensions
when superannuated or disabled Is that
employed on railroads. More than fifty
railroads, including most of the large
systems, have adopted some such system
and find It advantageous.
Realize Brotherhood Of Man.
..The world seems to be approaching
more and more a realization Of the BROTH
erhood of man and of our duty to care
for those no longer able to care for
themselves. This Is shown In the In
crease Of institutions for the care of the
sick and injured and of the defective
classes. and in the constantly increasing
sums Of money devoted to such purposes.
It Is manifested in the so-called work.
mems compensation laws now being con-
sidered by Congress, and In many OF the
states, the object of which is to compel
business to bear part Of the burden Of
disability caused by the alarmingly enor-
nous number Of accidents In shops and
factories and railroads.
This spirit Of brotherhood is shown In
the large number of labor organizations
and employees OF numerous manufacture
Ing establishments. estimated at more
than 1,5OO in number. which maintain
funds BY voluntary contributions for the
payment Of sick and accident and DIS
ability insurance. None of these bene-
fits are large and hardly cover more
than the loss Of wages. Death benefits
are also paid. but these are only sufficient
to pay the expenses Of the last sickness
and funeral and to maintain .he family
for q short time after the death Of the
wage-earner and head OF the family.
Some half dozen organizations of work.
ingmen are collecting funds with which
to establish approximation funds for the
purpose Of paying benefits to their men,
bers after they have reached q certain
age. The movement In this country for
the payment of old-age annuities is gem
M cfn nr0mtSaQ hafnra
many years to include all branches of
industry and employment. When these
funds are maintained BY the working
men alone the spirit which actuates them
is that Of brotherhood and self-help.
Where the fund is maintained by the en-
ployer the system is inaugurated, not
for charity, but because it works for
efficiency and economy. This may be
said to be a selfish motive. but II SO. 1t
is a noble selfshness and benefits the
employe as we'll as the employer.
Old-Age Pension In Europe.
'"The problem Of old-age insurance
can hardly be said to exist as yet in the
United States, where the opportunities are
SO great for every man to earn de-
cent livelihood. In Great Britain and
several European countries laws are in
oneration providing old-age pensions. The
house Of commons has just passed a
bill which makes much more liberal pro-
vision for old people than the law now
In operation.
pointed a commission on old-age pen
sions which made very exhaustive re-
mort. The commission rejected any sys-
tenn of old-age pension or of compulsory
state insurance. but held that the latter.
some form furnish the solution of the
n,otlan IF old-age insurance. We have