Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-14
FOREIGN NEWS NOTES

London, Jan. 1.-THE decision Of
the council OF the British Medical as
ISOLATION not to work through the in
surance committees set up by the ma.
tional insurance act, because of their
Disagreement with the terms OF COM
pensation offere dby the government,
has caused serious split in the as
ISOLATION.
After long negotiations and a pie
biscite Of the profession in which the
majority OF doctors voting decided
against accepting the governments
terms, the council submitted an alter
native policy, which gave the various
divisions Of the association freedom to
negotiate with the insured persons or
TIER representatives, the approved So
c'eties. The government refused to
consent 10 any such arrangement and
proceeded 70 tia formation of panels
OF medical men yelling to work under
the act and announced that in any area
where there we're not sufficient doc.
tors accepting their terms, to make
other provision for giving medical
benefit to all insured persons who re
qb!re II after Jan. 10, the date on
which the benefits come into effect.
In most of the large cities the gov
eminent has found no difficulty in OBJ
tanning sufficient doctors to act, and
Ia some districts all the doctors have
accepted the TENS II is in the coun-
try districts, where the old fashioned
practitioner still has a complete mo-
nOpoly of the practice. that the great
est difficulty will be found Those who
have accepted the governments terms
have formed the National Practition-
ers' association and have withdrawn
from the older association. In the
first plebiscite the doctors voted by an
Overwhelming majority against the
plan on the ground that the fees we're
not large enough. The government
partially met this objection by increas-
ing the fees, but the doctors were still
dissatisfied anC they fought hard for
more. Another plebiscite was taken,
and while a majority OF those who vot-
ed were against falling in under the
new scale of fees, a still greater ma
jcrity abstained II is these abstain
ers with the minority in the voting,
upon whom the government is now Re
lying. Lloyd George. the spoTBor OF
the act, expresses confidence that he
VIII secure sufficient doctors, but says
II he does not he will establish ma,
tional medical service.
Earl Grey, who has taken the presi
dency OF the British committee for
the celebration OF the Tooth anniver
sary Of the signing of the treaty OF
Client, between America and England
Is one OF that type OF Englishmen
who at the conclusion OF their active
service for the state take up move
ments for the general good, which in
fact keep them almost if not more
busy than did their public duties. Al
Ter the usual few years in parliament
Earl Grey became admins 'rator OF
Rhodesia. and by easy stages reached
the governor-generalshi of Canada
which is. next TO the viceroyalty OF
India. the highest post in the colonial
service. His term In the dominion
was a busy one, and since his re urn
home he has not allowed any grass
to grow under his feet. He has taken
up the celebration of the 100 years
peace with enthusiasm and is working
hard for IL.
There has been a tremendous SLUMP
In the value of real es ate in South
Kensington. due largely to the noise
Of the traffic and the size of the
houses erected there in the last cen
fury Recently the government pur
chased six houses for the extension
Of the South Kensington museum
The price paid was from $4,000 t
$4,000. Twenty years ago each o
these houses was worth from 100000
20 $4,000. Five OF the houses have
heen empty for half a century because
of their size and the noise from TIVE
.horoughfares on either side.
Lord Kitchener is carrying out I
great plan OF road constructor II
Egypt. which may make that countr.
he Mecca OF motorists. Already
road is nearing completion between
Alexandra and Cairo. and Kitchene
Is now studying a plan for covering
Egypt with a complete series Of mali
roads
These will be undertaken by III