New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-04
r.u;nist Leaders Protest
} omission of Maternity
Clause in Bill.
,cTJON BY STATE
." CALLED UNFAIR
v;,, Pauline Newman Offers TO
Ne nsbate-Mrs. Kelley Opposes
Paying for Stork.

1. hss JVst CV'"O
,..ainc feminists Of the city that
~, nv widsly approved health insurance
s s9T under which insurance for all Ill
0'"' v;l be guaranteed TO working
n'.' add women, has omitted TO pro
ns" ,..uraneo for maternity expenses
Wv s.onsors Of the bill by tins omis-
h.co offended those who encour-
-" non 20 work after marriage, the
e., IN the economic independence
PEN, 'rom.o and those who know that
:. numbers Of women, independent
w. :, ,h.orjes. are compelled to work
'a., marriage for the support OF the
family .to h;llcane
.',sr5av from Miss Pauline Newman
' So Of the legislative committee
9. 49, Women's Trade Union League
w. Newman announced that at the
. ~. meeting OF tho league TO be
S.M yopday, protest would be
N' - against the exclusion Of the ma
..,,ity clause. Miss Newman further
Challenged those who were responsible
s.s,b. omission Of the clause TO meet
t -, in public debate to explain their
position.
publio Protest Planned.
,ublic hearing for the bill IS
,.h,dplsd for March II. Last night 1t
-. said that friends of the working
~o.1.r will speak their minds at this
,a Members Of the committee on
,nri,l insurance were non-committal as
. .,o maternity clause, which they
=. 4, only a detail Of the whole big
,.h Insurance scheme. II - under
l..as ,ba, the chief opposition TO the
80 clause has come from MIS-
r,ara,ca Kelley, secretary OF the Ma
,opsl Consumers League
'S tn bill as originally drawn up con-
.,;rsd the desired maternity pension
clause. as follows;
''s avs,srnity benefits shall consist OF:
All necessary medical, surgical and
.h,.a,,;cal aid, materials and apph..
.Ssss vnicn snail be given insured
vomen and the wives OF insured men
Is weekly cash benefit, payapie 10
;,srred women. equal 10 the regular
.;cL hsnea, of the insured, for a PERIOD
~ eight weeks, OF which SIX al ieast
hall be subsequent 20 connnemen,' on
sond;,ion that the beneficiary shall ao-
Main from lainful employment during
beriod Of payments
4 Mrs. KELLEY expressed her opposition
lin letter 70 members of the commit
70. and prominent social workers.
"OHering a cash bonus TO wage-earn-
ing women" she said, amounts TO say
ing 10 her husband.
"'Send your wife into mill, FACTORY
Or swea,shop and the public and the
single Gomen in her factory VIII SEM
you present for your next BABY.
IN the absence OF any authoritative
igures as 10 the number OF marrleo
women in industry, we are reduced 10
using the facts OF common knowledge
and these appear 70 sum up as follows:
The men whose wives VIGOROUSLY WORK
ior wages are alcoholics, the mentally
defective and those suffering from IN
durable disease and insanity; also,
nsgroes and unsklled non-Enghsh-
speaking aliens.
Seek. Short Working Day.
"rhe tendency Of this bill appears TO
x 70 put a premium on employing the
mothers Of young children. From our
point Of view. until We have universal
sickness insurance q better way 10
promote the health Of wage-earners Is
70 get a snort working day and d Nv
ng wage by means OF minimum wage
legislation for both men and women,
and 10 discourage IN every possible way
he wsge-earning employment OF moth
US Of young children.
10 these theories many members OF
nc Women's Trade Union League and
he leading feminists OF the city do not
subscribe
They point out that the maternity
pension will not tend TO increase the
number Of married women in industry
first, because the mother would have
70 pay six months insurance premiums
before the birth OF her baby, and she
would receive benefits amounting 70
only two-;hirds OF her wage for eight
weeks; second, employers would be ess
hsely 20 hire married women If they
lad 10 pay insurance premiums 70 cover
Maternity benefits.
Moreover, they point out that health
Insurance laws in eleven European
so1ntries include maternity pensions.
Edward T. Dcvine, director Of the
New York School Of Philanthropy, Is
Chairman OF the committee which drew
" the bill. and John y. Andrews, OF
ne American Association for Labor
legs lstior, is secretary. The bill will
provide compulsory insurance for labor
year.
According 20 the schedule girl earn
Ag NO week will be taxed for insur-
.nee $ cents. Those earning less than
" viii pay correspondingly smaller
proportion Of the assessment, and their
employers larger portion. The insur.
nee guarantee covers medical. surgical
slo nursing attendance, and cash bene-
4. amounting % two-thirds OF the
Aeekiy wage