The Irish standard., 1914-12-12
SOCIAL INSURANCE CONFERENCE
Fifteenth Annual Meeting Of the Ma.
tional Civic Federation,
New York City.

NSW YORK NUIys
The discussion of social insurance,
Its present and future status, was the
main topic at the recent fifteenth an
nual meeting of the National Civic
Federation of New York. In view of
the influence exerted by this organiza-
tion, and the personnel of it's staff, this
discussion, resultant of extensive in
vestigation both abroad and in Amer
lea Is of great import to all people
interested in insurance, of great con-
Germ to Catholics because of the prin-
ciples and policies involved, and of
vital Importance to citizens in general.
The object of the conference and
of the investigations, in the words of
the chairman, is as follows:
"The necessity of developing a con-
dition of greater insurance against
misfortune among wage-earners led
the Social Insurance Department of
the National Civic Federation to in
stitute. in February of the past year,
an inquiry into the principles and
methods followed and the results ar.
rived at in European countries in car
rying out, in any of it's various forms,
the work of social insurance-that is.
insurance, which, whether operated as
direct function of the government
or conducted Independently by free.
associations, is especially designed for
the masses whose incomes are de-
rived from the less gainful occupa-
tions. AS developed in Europe, such.
insurance provides variously in the.
different countries for sick, unemploy-
ment, maternity and death benefits
for widows and orphans, and for old
age periodical payments, made either
as free pensions given by the State.
or as annuities, purchased by insur-
ance methods. through contributions,
either from the State or from volun-
tary organizations"
The case is not fully stated, how
ever. The question is not whether
the state should establish and main
tain system of social insurance, and
whether it is practical at this
time to do so, but whether it is polite
to have our economic activities
chained to the police power Of the
State. Secondly, if the State is not
to assume this duty, should this bust
ness be conducted by cooperative or
CARNATIONS, or in their absence, by
purely commercial bodies? Thirdly,
to what extent do the present social
problems necessitate social insurance?
This particular phase of the problem
has precipitated the specific question
by the National Civic Federation,
namely: Should there be system
attic scheme of compulsory sickness
insurance advocated for State legisla-
ton in the United States?
The report of the committee which
investigated this question in England
is very interesting and informing. The
addresses and discussions likewise
are OF great value to all interested
parties. The recommendations of the
Social Insurance Department, which
is composed of employers, labor repre-
sentatives, heads of corporation vol
untary relief departments, the social
insurance experts, are as follows:
With respect to National Health In
surance, National Unemployment In
! surance and Old-Age Pensions alike,
the committee has these opinions:
When any plan for compulsory So
cial insurance is proposed in the
United States which disposes of the
difficulties presented by immigration
and the lack of labor exchanges, it
will be time enough to dwell on the
remaining obstacles to the system.
We should resist any spirit of i'm
patience in America to copy these
doubtful experiments; but should urge
a policy Of watchful waiting until
their results become certain.
The entire movement as it has thus
far advanced in Great Britain is still
too young to afford any permanent
conclusions upon it's human or social
economic conclusions values. This is
intended more as an interim or prog
ress report than as final report upon
the movement as thus far developed
In that country.
Regarding the economic activities
of the State the address of Senator
Jonathan Bourne, Jr., throws consider
able light on the question of govern
ment ownership, which in his opin-
ion is destructive of popular and rep
resentative government. Furthermore,
he says, ''the desideratum of all gov
eminent should be the protection of it's
citizens and only such restraint of
individual action as is absolutely nee
essary to insure the desired protection
of all citizens"
BRITISH ENVOY TO VATICAN.
The appointment of Sir Henry How
| ard. KC.MG as Rrifieh Envoy IN thu