The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-07-27
LABOR NOTES OF
VIDE INTEREST

The labor group in the British House
of Parliament, in cooperation with Da-
vid Lloyd George, chancellor of the eX-
chequer, are quite elated at the pros
poets of the effects anticipated from the
working out Of the insurance act, which
went into effect July Is, and is another
step in the great favored movement,
which began with the compensation act
and the old age pension measure. Mr..
| George says: "The insurance act VIII
| help the mother at childbirth and VIII
inaugurate great national campaign
against consumption. Instead of devot-
| ing our strength to fight our nelghbors
abroad, we are going to organize to
| fight social evils at home. ] am con-
WINGED that it will be hailed throughout
the whole country as one OF the most
benehcent measures ever enacted by the
people, and now that it will soon be in
full operation we intend to press for
ward and put all hands to the great
work OF freeing the land which was
meant for the use of the many, but
which was drifted into the hands OF the
few. We must free it for the people
and for their children forever This
act insures against sickness and invalid
ity. In seven selected industries it in
sures against unemployment.
The principal features of the act are:
l. 1t applies to the whole OF the indus
trial population, including the army.
navy and mercantile marine. 2. insur-
ance is compulsory for all employed
persons in receipt OF wages or salaries.
3. Its administrative machinery is large
ly in the hands of the people insured
in the main, trade unions and fraternal
organizations. A. The rates of contribu-
ton and benefits are the same for all
employed persons, regardless of age, pro-
vided they come into the scheme before
July, 1913. 5. The cost is divided among
employers who will pay six cents per
employe per week, the employee who Will
pay eight cents per week and the gov
eminent, which will pay four cents per
person per week. o. The act does not in
terfere with the existing compensation
for injuries act or the employers liabili-
ty law. I. 1t is preliminary to the old
age pension act, persons reaching the
age of seventy coming under the proyis-
ions of the old age pension law. s. IT
makes special provisions for women at
the time OF childbirth. 8. 1t involves a
special effort to deal with tuberculosis.
TO- 1t provides for the preservation and
will stimulate the growth of existing or
CARNATIONS like trade unions and fra
ternal organizations promoted to adj
vance thrift and cooperative self help.
IL. It's compulsory features will be par
ticularly helpful to those who heretofore
have been shortsighted and thriftless. 1t
will also prevent wholesale imposition
formerly practiced upon people by pri-
vate insurance companies. II. Ii will
open the door to broad international
scheme of compulsory insurance for all
workers in all countries by admitting
to and from foreign countries
with which special arrangements may be
made The selected industries against |
unemployment are those in the build |
ing an engineering trades, designedly |
chosen for the experiment because OF |
their irregularity OF operation. More |
than fourteen million men and women
will be included at the very outset. The |
initial cost OF government sanitarium |
will be 81 100000 and the annual allow
ance for upkeep and maintenance will be
s5,O00,O00.