Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-12
A COLOSSAL EXPERIMENT
British National Workmen's Insurance.
Plan Bio Undertaking.

The crowning work Of the career OF
Lloyd George, the British national
workmen's insurance plan, has been
completely reported on in a volume OF
$50 pages in the shape Of a blue book,
says the New York Commercial It
shows that 100000 peojle are enti-
tied to its benefits after a year OF OPP
GRAFTON. Societies sanctioned to OPP
crate under the law number 2,2l2.
During the twelve months just past
20, 900 persons obtained free hospital
treatment and the enormous sum OF
$25, ,000, 900 went to workers as indem-
nifty. To operate system which Will
assemble 100000 out Of popula-
ton of 47,000,000 people is a fact OF
tremendous import. 1t either means
an Industrial revolution or national
bankruptcy. The report states that
practically every form Of organization
previously engaged in industrial life
and accident Insurance Is now repre-
sented in the administration Of the
act. These include the "State club"
covering a single village and the In
dustrial insurance company with rep
resentatives throughout the United
Kingdom. The scope Of the benefits
under the law is indicated by the re-
port.
Up to March 81 of this year, 2S4
societies had been given permission to
sell the insurance in the United King
dom, and 1913 were allowed to oper-
ate in England. More than 10000
branches are covered by the approval.
In England alone there are 1O,32b,-
600 insured in societies. or these
about 4,S1S.OOO are in friendly socie-
ties and 3,s25,0O0 are taking state
benefits through societies formed by
Industrial assurance companies; l.
1sO. 900 are in trade unions, $4,000
in collecting societies and $4,000 In
other approved organizations.
During the first three months OF the
year, under a membership Of 4,300.-
900 approximately s2,000,O00 was ex-
pended in sickness and $sS0,0oo In
maternity benefits. Up to May 81
there had been paid in premiums to
societies a total OF $20,000,000.
In England alone, during the frs,
four months after July 15, 1912, q
S65 applicants were admitted to sani'
tariums under the law. There were
1.467 in residential institutions, 507 In
or through a tuberculosis dispensars
were treated and S91 at home. BY
April 80, 1918, the number In residen'
tial institutions had increased to 7,464
while 2,167 had received treatment II
or through a dispensary, and 1898 a.
lhome-in all 14,624. At present II
England alone over 200 residential In
stitutions have been approved, these
lsanatoria having accommodations fol
some 5000 cases.
The subject Of medical benefit !!
dealt with in considerable detail. Tht
agreements with the doctors were II
the first instance entered into for
period of three months only. 1T II
significant" says the report, "as al
indication of the general attitude o.
the profession, that on the expiration
of this period these agreements were
voluntarily extended by practically al
the doctors who had previously &C
cepted service" On January Id, th'
names Of 1896 doctors were on tn'
lists: on April IA the number was 49,
5S4, between 80 and 80 per cent OF tn
? total number of doctors engaged In In
dustrial practice being therefore avail
able to treat the insured population
The report says that compliance ol
the part of industrial employers In In
dustrial centers is generally satisfac
J tory, while in the agricultural district
prosecutions have been necessary.
/, Upon the ultimate success or failur
, of this national insurance act and II
t its development, students believe
rests England's Industrial future. /
, Is still too early to predict how tn
, enormous tax upon the producin
classes will affect her struggle to kee
her place among the manufacturin
= nations
8 Her insurance fund covering sick
ness and accident was launched at
< time of great trade prosperity, an
5 the report says that this helped launc'
; the measure. Great Britain's grea
8 competitor, Germany, has been sad
C died with a paternal indemnity system
a for years and, while 1t Is said to hav
r worked out well, the taxpayers ar
\ complaining Of the cost.
England's experiment is to b
:. watched closely and with both under
d standing and fear Of half-digeste
= limitations