Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-05-02
HOW THE PLAN WORKS OUT

Sweden Ready to Put an Old Age Pen
sion System Into Effect-Choir of
St. olafs College, NorthfieId, Mimi,
to Make Foreign Tour-sociaIists
Fail in Endeavor to Secure Control
of Affairs in Copenhagen.
j. = :. j. X !. :. !. i. i. X !. + + X !.
+ SWEDEN. !
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After a delay of a generation Swe-
den is about to introduce an old age
pension. At the beginning of the de-
cade of 1880 Adolph Hedin raised the
question in the second chamber OF
the riksdag with a motion for insur-
ance against accident and incapacity.
The matter was investigated, but
when it came up for consideration the
question of the change in the system
of customs was to the fore and inter
est died away. If the present solution
approaches the proposals of the gov
eminent Sweden will get an insurance
which, with all its scantiness, should
give the most possible at present. The
high rule of the average length OF life
and the consequent extended age of
incapacity makes it in Sweden par
ticularly difficult to bring about effec-
tive incapacity insurance at a reason
able expense. On basis of a tax OF
so cents a year and an additional fee
of 81. "a for those who have an income
of over STA, and $2.6S for those who
have over 1921, the amount of the
pensions cannot be made higher than,
respectively, $12.06, 1926 and $52.26,
to commence at the age of sixty-seyen
or before in the case of lasting in
capacity for iselfsupporting work.
With reference to the difficulty in col
lecting the money, which in insurance
for the public cannot be done as in in
dustria1 insurance by deduction from
the weekly wages by the employers,
and considering that the heads OF
families have not only to pay their
own contribution, but also that OF
their wives and children over fifteen
years old, the rate of contribution has
been held down so as not to risk a
counterstroke of irremedial damage
for the whole insurance. Instead, the
state and community contribute to the
| pension with at most $4,000 for mer
| and $3.50 for women who are with
out income. For those who have in
! comes the contribution of the state is
! decreased by an amount correspond
| ing to half the yearly income, anC
! there will be no contribution if the
| income exceeds S80.40 for men ant
| SGT for women In all the pension fol
those absolutely without means viii
! come to $5226 if they have belonged
| to the lowest division of payments, OF
| S72.36 if they have belonged to. the
second, and $9346 if they have be
| Ionged to the third. All who have paiC
| their rate of contribution have tht
right to the pension-the amount o
the pension is calculated at 80 pc
| cent of the contributions paid and thu
| duty Of contributing has to be observ
ed by all who have not at least for
tune of 1908, or receive pensions TO
| state service. Even those who haY'
not made payments and therefore havt
| no pension to receive, have the RICH
to get the pensions If, as invalids
| they come within the limits Of income
The greater part, or 82.2 per cent 0
the whole population, belongs to tn
lowest class of payment, comprising
among others small farmers, farm sci
wants, children and sons-in-law livin
at home, certain male and most fe
male workers in country districts
servants and most wives. The mic
die income class should compris
most male Industrial workers; also
number of other wage earners in il
dustry and trade; also smaller inde
pendent workers, both in the town
! and country. To the third class @
payments should belong the highes
paid workers in trades, other wag
earners in special service, also thos
T dependent on their own resource:
Anyone who SO desires can, by volu1
tary payments above those obligatory
obtain higher pension, and parishe
have the right in special cases t
' grant higher pension contribution
than those prescribed as obligator!
which shall be borne as to. thre,
5 fourths by the state and as to on,
fourth by the parish. To widower,
widows or spinsters entitled to pei
! sions, who are continually incapabl
; OF working and have to provide 70
{ their own children under fifteen year
Of age, the pension is increased b