The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-26
KAKsAy COMMENT
STATE LIFE INSURANCE..


Jonathan Davis proposed compul-
sorry state insurance law is similar to
one attempted in England. 1t would
compel every person between the
ages of 20 and SO years to pay a pre-
MUM of so cents per month. into the
state through life, for which, at death,
the heirs would receive $1,000 insur-
ance. From this amount funeral ex-
penses would be paid and the balance
go to the relatives. A severe penalty
payments on the premiums.
That Mr.. Davis bill encompasses
need that has been recognized by so
old and SO conservative a people as
the BritonS atteSts to the merit of
the principle. A similar law is also
said to be in operation in Wisconsin.
But recent writers on current events
have told in detail of the persistent
opposition in England to the enforced
collection of premiums on state insur-
ance. This opposition is from the
working class, which the law was es
pecially calculated to benefit. So per-
sistent is the objection to the collec-
ton of premiums that riots have re-
suited. 1t is true that in England so
cial and industrial conditions make
some such compulsory insurance more
necessary than in Kansas.
Another important feature of such
insurance is the premium rate. A
premium of Sc a year would yield
reserve of but $3.50 during the thirty
year period during which it is proposed
to collect the premium, and this takes
into account no expense whatever of
the operation of the insurance depart
ment. Necessarily there would be
some expense. But allowing the full
$3.50 for reserve, would such a plan
pay out the $1,000 benefits proposed?
Would not the death rate be so great
as to make a Sc premium inadequate
to pay the benefits? This is a question
for the actuaries.-Fort Scott Tribune.
THE OTHER SIDE.
To our way of thinking there are
many SNUG business men, who are
we'll within the law as it is written,
who are much worse than the cash
register magnate. They are the men
who work others, frequently, even
most frequently. women and children,
for long hours at poor pay; whose
wealth is created in sickly sweat
shops, and wrung from the misery of
the submerged tenth. Patterson's
record is much different He has done
much toward putting Dayton ON the
map, and there is apt to be much
good in the man who helps his home
town instead of heading for New
York as SOON as he gets a paying
proposition.
More than that, he has made the
cash register factory, offices and sales
rooms most ideal places to work He
has done more welfare work among
his employees than almost any large
employer, and Being a pioneer in that
line his helpfulness cannot be limited
to his own establishment. Much of it
has been requested in other enter
prises throughout the country and
the great strides made in the santa
ton of workshops may be largely
traced to DAYTON Patterson has
prospered, but those who have helped
him have shared the profits. His en-
ployeS live in eomforta Bile homes
amid pleasant surroundings, and work
in the ideal workshop pleasantly stu
ated.
Besides this, he has done more than
any others to perfect the product he
sells, and has developed a wonder
full sales force with the wide world for
a market place. That the cash regis
ter has been a valuable machine in
the business world none will DENY
Patterson has given value received,
which may not be said of some manu-
facturers who escape the meshes of the
trust law and other statutes. Evident
ly his methods of besting competitors
do not meet with government ap-
proval, but at most, he has done no
worse than many business men at
tempt, and he has done so much bet
ter in many ways that the Jail SEN
tence seems unjust, when so many
worse offenders go unpunished,-
AtchiSon Globe,