Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-01-09

banished by act of parliament. The
insurance act strikes at certain causes
of poverty and unemployment. which
are preventable. In conjunction with
the workmen's compensation acts. the
old age pensions act, the public health
acts, and the factory acts. all measures
of social reform, which seek to make
tomorrow's world better than our
world today. the insurance act endeav-
ors to remove poverty and distress due
to accident. sickness, infirmity, old
age, insanitary workshops and un-
healthy dwellings. 1t attacks the slum
owner, penalties the sweater and
makes the health Of the people the
first care of the state. 1t lays broad
and firm the foundations of q new So
cial policy-a policy Of mutual help
and good will among all members OF
the community, based upon q recogni-
ton of the fact that the undeserved
poverty or undeserved unemployment
of the humblest member Of society Is
something which closely affects the
general well-being of the state"
And Mr.. Calvert, who represents not
a LiberalLabor constituency, but the
city which employs labor. gave en-
phatic assent.
Criticisms of the practical workings
of the few months operation of the in
surance act have been various and
virulent. Some criticisms were 30
we'll founded that the act. in its less
important details, has been amended.
Friendly societies objected to some
provisions and doctors to others.
Some critics say now that the work
ingman pays and gets nothing in re-
turn. others that the employer and
the taxpayer pay and the workingman
gets too much. Both criticisms cannot
Of course be true. There IL the Con-
sentative criticism that the act il q
long step towards Socialism.
10000 Get Sick BENEFIT Weekly.
Some things are certain In regard to
the acts workings. About 100000
persons in Great Britain and Ireland
are now insured against sickness.
when before the act there were about
100000 The act raised the first year
$3.50. 000. 900. OF this amount the work
men contributed SIS. 100000, Twenty
thousand doctors are employed to give
free medical treatment and nine thou
sand chemists-who are the British
druggists-furnish free drugs, pre-
scribed by these doctors. To the poor
est workingman il given the same
medical treatment and the same pure
medicines and drugs as the richest
duke can afford. About $4,000. 900 has
been paid during the year to doctors
and 100000 to chemists. Sickness
benefits are paid weekly to 10000
workers. The men get $3.50 a week
and the women $1.75 q week. because
they pay less.
Maternity benefits amounting to $2.-
100000 have been paid. The birth
rate has at least not been discouraged.
For tuberculosis sanatoriums has been
set aside 100000. twenty-five thou
sand workmen have been treated un-
der the act. $4,000 in sanatoriums.
These are the figures. but for the real
facts a. to the benefits brought by
the act one must note the changed
conditions in the workingmen's homes.
see the cures wrought. the shadows
lifted. No man or woman In the
United Kingdom need lack. under this
act, insurance against sickness. unem-
ployment or the unmerited poverty
which. to the underpaid. 30 frequently
comes with old age
But IL this not queer business for .
great empire?
Let the best-hated and bestowed
statesman In Great Britain, the author
Of the national Insurance act, David
Lloyd George. make reply:
adds New Glory to Empire"
Since 1908. when we had old age
pensions for the first time, we have
had q great empire for the first time
taking direct interest in the condi-
ton of those aged, those infirm, those
sick. and those broken. The old the
DRY was that this was beneath the dig
nifty Of an empire. The concern of an
empire was to see that the machinery
Of human slaughter was perfect. That
was the concern of an empire. To tar
the food of the people. that il think.
ing imperially; but to heal the sick.
to feed the hungry. these are thoughts
At only for q parish beadle. There was
q great emperor once who added to
the luster of his fame by visiting the
wounded after the battle. Now We
have got this great British empire for
the first time walking the hospitals.
visiting the, sick. inquiring how the In.
firm are getting on, helping them to
mend and curing and assisting them.
You ask me II this 10 not queer bust
ness for . great empire. Why, 1t II
adding . new dignity and glory to the
British empire. 1t 10 the beginning Of
Q new era In the history Of imperial.
ism. the newest Imperialism and the
best"
In . certain old Book It may be
read: For l was an hungred. and
70 gave me meat; was thirsty, and
ye gave me drink; was . stranger.
and 70 took me In; naked. and ye
clothed me; I was sick. and ye visit
cd me; l was In prison. and ye came
unto me-"
And Of the Great Exemplar of this
high duty of man to man it 10 record.
ed that his empire shall have no end.
(CopyriGht. 1913. bv Joseph B. Bowles.)
Has Aes-0ld Mastodon.