Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-02-06
R~xnEoReE CLINTON.

- he
Gardner, Republican. or MAnoachn-
ats. expects Democratic support for
bis bill ptovidfhK ter : federal hos
Dital ship 10 sail with the Gloucester
fshing fleet and to give nrst medical.
and surgical aid to Sick1 or injured
sailors. Progressive-Republicans In
the house believe that IL this bill
passes it can DO used mn d precedent
Ia provide federal aid for workmen
IN ether industries. like the mills and
the mines, and they say 1t Will be
nm entering wedge for humanitarian
eaAeavor on the part, Of Uncle Sam.
It IL said In Warrington by mem
bers Of al partieG that lf congress
shall put through the Gardner bill,
thus in effect recognizing the prtn-
ciple Of federal aid to workers in all
industries, It will be done In part to
show that the Democratic partylwGntR
to do some Of those things the spirit
Of which dwelt In the proposals OF
the platform adopted by the Progress
sive party at Chicago. It is known
that members OF the new party favor
the Gardner measure and the leaders
here say that the party when it gets
It's representation In the new con-
gross viii support any congressional
measure, no matter by what party 1t
IN introduced, which looks to the prop
or relief Of the workers Of the coun-
try no matter In what industry they
labor.
Marine Hospitals n Precedent.
Uncle Sam himself has q precedent
for giving federal aid to injured work
ers. In 1898 by an act OF congress
the marine hospital fund was Great
ed to maintain hospitals for the care
Of disabled seamen employed on ships
flying the American flag. For nearly
half q century the federal government
gave free medical attendance to sal
lors, but In 1916 by another act Of
congress a system Of Industrial lnsur-
ance, in principle exactly like the
Lloyd George insurance act Of Eng
land, was adopted. The master of
each ship was required to keep back
from the wages OF each sailor
forty cents a month. This sum was
to pay, in part, for the maintenance
OF q marine hospital.
In 1884 these deductions were dis
continued, and q tonnage tax instead
was imposed upon the owners of the
vessels. I'm 1902 this tax I'm turn was
discontinued, the deficiency being
made up from q straight ~approprfa-
ton. Today the marine hospitals Of
the United States public health serv-
Ice still give free medical and surgt-
cal aid to sailors, but the sailor must
GENE ashore before he can be treated.
The Gardner proposition would wide
II extend the scope and usefulness of
the hospital service, bringing 1t hun
dreds of miles out into the ocean to
the very bunk OF the sick seaman.
It is known that the house commit
tee Is seriously considering the es-
adjustment Of a contributory insur-
ance system for the fshermen-a sys-
tenn much like that established by
congress In 1916. What makes that
COMMITTEES hes1tate In the fear OF
opening up the entire question Of In
surance for workers.
Report on German System.
LIZ x1s 445S VA INC OA4NG9
States bureau Of labor, reported re
Gently to his chief concerning the ne.
cddeHt insurance of seamen which has
prevailed in Germany since 1888. BY
It's terms the Law applies to persons
engaged In transportation on the high
seas, TO persons engaged in ship rig
HAg, pilot service, and the like, and
In transportation on q small scale By
means Of seagoing vessels. and "a
persons engaged in nshfng ON the
high sea and on the coast.
The BENEFITS provided consist Of
free medical treatment, medicine and
d pension up to 1928 per cent Of the
annual earnings. In special cases q
pension Of 1O0 per cent is given. The
administration Of this law is left to
the Navigation Accident association.
cooperative organization under
strong government control. In the
case OF the fishing industry the an
A9al premium for each sailor comes
villages pay hal9 this sum from then
OWn treasury. and they may assess
the other half as they deem proper.
The action therefore Of the house
eommftte on merchant marine and
fisheries with reference to the Gard
ner bill perhaps Is much more signifl
cant than might at first glance ap
pear. Should the measure be report
Cd favorably it may open the way fol
workmen's insurance IN other indus
tries. It wifi at any rate bring up The
0Rann%S~- - la
or lack OF right Of the federal gov
erHment to ARE for the welfare %
It's people.
Two Butterflies.