Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-03-13
INSURANCE SCHEME
IS MEETING WITH
OPPOSITION
British Law is Displeasing to
Many; Big Employers and
Doctors Are Among the
Chief Directors.


passed through parliament without
division. that Ia without any member
registering a vote against Il, the Ma
tlonal Insurance Scheme against sick
ness and disablement has set up a
record Tor the extent OF the controyer-
~ that has ragged around II.
The friendly societies, which have
insurance benefits OF their own for
members, started the trouble. They
feared that the bill by forcing their
members to contribute TO the govern
mont scheme, would induce them TO
leave the societies. This was settled
ny approved societies being allowed
| % administer the act so far as II
dealt with their members.
Then came the opposition OF mis-
tresses and servants, who, besldes OBJ
iecting to contributing their six cents
weekly each for the Insurance 81 the
servant. raised a cry against the
necessity OF sticking the necessary
stamps In a book.
Opposition also came from large
employers % labor, chiefly In The cot
ton districts OF Lancashire, who held
that the extra tax would deprive them
OF their profits.
Other classes have taken up the cry
against the bill, the Socialists among
them, as they wanted q system 10
which the wOrkmen would not have
to contribute, the state and employer
paying the whole OF the amount re-
qulred.
The most serious and sustained OPP
position to the bill, however. has been
that OF the medical men, ~ 900 OF
whom have signed q declaration that
they will rot accept service under the
lact. The chief objection OF the doctors
Is that no adequate remuneration Tor
1.-The medical men could be obtained un-
der the act. that II would, IN fact,
amount 10 about 81 yearly for each
ipatlent
This Is only calculation. IS the act
states that the remuneration Of doc
tors who place their names on the
lists OF those agreeing to attend pa
tents under the act shall be a matter
of arrangement beween he local IN
lsurance committees and the doctor
1.-THE medical men, however, point out
That the committees consist Of per-
haps so members, only three Of whom
would be medical men, so that the
chances OF adequate remuneration are
the remotost
The medical men also object 10 the
control by friendly societies, chiefly
because they believe we'll 20 do people
would creep into the friendly societies
and get medical attendance al the
same rate as the iaborers. Then
there Is objection to what 10 known
hero as the contract system This
already prevails In certain districts,
chiefly among the miners, who CON
tribute 10 q fund out Of which a med
ical man attends those contributing
for a fixed salary.
Those doctors who, IN face Of the
decision OF the great majority OF their
profession have agreed to act under
the bill are being deoried as black
legs" and the campaign u being car
ried on much as would a strike or
trade unionists.
The government has started ccun-
ter campaign to bring home 10 every
household In the land that II was 70
a radical government that they owed
what they believe 20 be the blessings
OF a great measure OF a great healing
organization
Mr.. LLOYD George opened this cam
paign at a meeting In the London
opera house when he replied TO the
criticisms OF the medical profession
Tie contended that the doctors were
no longer under the control OF the
friendly societies. and as TO remuner-
lation. the bill get mp an independent
authority on which the doctors would
be represented and which would
frame the terms The insurance com.
mlttees could not arrange the terms
for paying doctors without consClung
1.-The local medical committee repre-.
lsantlng the whole OF the doctors Of
1.-THE district, and there was an appeal
, 10 the insurance commissioners
Should the medical profession refuse
TO act. an the safeguards inserted N
the act for their profession would be
wiped out al once and the act would
be as alive as ever. The money alo-
Gated TO medical benefits would
he handed over TO the Insured
persons through their societies and
/ the doctors would once more
+ find themselves face % race
with the friendly societies, the mem.
bershlp OF which would be increased
by ten million.
The act was to have been proclaim
ed May 1. The time has now been
extended until July /, and an ehorl
has been made to have the date tur
Their retarded.