New-York tribune., 1912-07-14
LLOYD George Scheme Making
the British a Nation of Stamp
LiCkers Goes Into Force
Tomorrow.
Topic ENGROSSES COUNTRY
PAYMENTS by Employers and
Employees Must Begin This
y Week, but There Will Be
No Benefits Until
January Next.
TBy Cable to The Tribune. ]


england is thinking of little else. One
=, the most extraordinary features Of the
matter is that with all the discussion no
ons seems to understand clearly what
Z, Is all about Only one or two points
mr.. settled, one of these being that some
fourteen million people are promised
ysrIous sick benefits. doctors and hos
nital treatment, and particularly treat
mepts and sanatoria for consumptives,
while as a matter Of fact the doctors
with one accord have refused to treat
natients for the sum the act provides
they be paid, and no sanatoria are yet
available for consumptives.
The country is 10 have 76 tuberculosis s
ssnatoria, with $500 beds, and something
like $4,000 tuberculous workers are
ready to take immediate advantage If
the act. AS THE Daily Mail expresses
It. the only advantage the workers will
receive for their tax will be compulsory
cod liver oil.
The government has been hard put to
Il in the House Of Commons these last
few days explaining its hope to have
sanatoria within eighteen months, and
suggesting that, in the mean time, why
not be optimistic and see If the act will
accomplish any good without them.
Wage Cuts Announced.
Another feature on which there seems
ito be no doubt is that the English will
become on Monday a nation of stamp
i!ckers Every man or woman who has
q servant will have to keep little book
IN which to paste three penny stamps
lsvery week for each servant kept, under
q penalty OF $50 fine for each stamp
missing. Servants must likewise keep a
book and lick stamps. These points being
settled. and that all the benefits to be
derived under the act are deferred six
months with the exception Of the benefit
of the sanatoria that do not exist, en-
ployers have already begun informing
their men that wages will have to be
cut 10 make up for the new tax. This
means that employees will not only have
10 pay tax, but will have their wages
cut as WE'LL in order TO provide for the
employers share Of the tax, and while
the employers tax Is fourpence week,
wages will be cut a shilling.
The insurance companies meanwhile
are rushing TO form sick benefit societies
and are taking new members by hun
dreds of thousands, as the act provides
that the government allow the societies
three shilings and eightpence week for
each member cared for during sickness.
and statistics show an average cost to
societies Of sick benefit of two shillings
and eightpence a week.
New Source Of Revenue.
From all this wonderful muddle over
the act there seems only one thing re-
naming for Mr.. Lloyd George to do, an1
that is TO pass a bill requiring Gus
toner to pay a tax and lick a stamp
when he gets his hat check in a res
taurant. This is the only thing remain
ing in England untaxed. When that.
too, is taxed the Englishman Will be
taxed from his first cry for milk to the
last spadeful Of earth on his grave.
Mr.. Lloyd George. the Trainer of the
measure, naturally is the man of the
hour. When entering the Remington
Theatre this afternoon for a Joy day
celebration arranged by supporters Of
his policy he was attacked by an OPP
ponent Of the measure. The Chancellor
nf he hot "a lt
hustled, but was not hurt.
In his speech afterward he said he rec
ognized that the act did not herald the
millennium, but he was confident that 1t
Brought II nearer
Part Of Great Programme.
1T brings it nearer" he said, because
is step in the great Liberal forward
movement which began with the old age
pension act, which was continued by the
budget Of 1909. providing for the taxa
tion Of land in Great Britain, and which
mas since been furthered by the enact
ment Of the law depriving the House of
LORDS Of its power Of veto over legisla-
lion thrice passed by the Commons, the
PEOPLES representatives.
For the first time in the history Of
GREAT Britain as a state, employer and
WORKER are now TO cooperate to main
tain and to increase the efficiency Of the
individual and Of the nation. The work
mans insurance act aims to make pro-
VISION for keeping the household from
poverty to keep the worker and his
tsmily from pauperism in the dark days
VI sickness which come to every house
HOio In turn, and to guard against suf-
'ering from unemployment for which the
workman is not responsible.
~ Will help the mother at childbirth
enu VIII inaugurate a great national
ssmpaign against consumption. Instead
oevoting our strength altogether %
"shting our neighbors abroad. we are
o'sanizing armaments to fight social
evils at home.
Altnough the act has been the subject
uhscrupulous attacks and Of deliberate
.nisferesentation, / am convinced that
VIII be hailed throughout the whole
.Vuhtry as one Of the most benefcent
measures ever given to the people.
Ano now that the workmen's insur-
nce act will be in full operation next
monday" he concluded, I'VE intend to
su' our hands to the great work of
ee'ng the land, which was meant for
Ae use OF the many, but which has
sessase "a hfth sese. second column.