South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-04

Prof. Irving Fisher of Yale uni
versity is one OF the most eminent
economists in the country His spec
ialty is the tariff, on which he has
done important work for the United
States government. He is ole of the
leading opponents of state health in
surance for workers. and at the re-
quest of the International News Ser
vice he has written the following ar
ticle on the subject:
BY Prof. Irving Fisher.
Because we have a democratic
form OF government we have peace
fully assumed that our civilization
is more advanced than others, but
while we have rested complacently
on our oars other nations have forg-
ed ahead of us in some very i'm
portaht ways.
For instance, the United States
has, at present the unenviable dis
tinction of being the only great in
dustrial nation without compulsory
health insurance.
Bills for health insurance, how
ever, have been introduced into the
state legislatures Of Massachusetts,
New York and New Jersey, and
commissions TO consider the subject
have been appointed in Massa-
chusetts and California.
The American Association for La
Dor legislation is waging a campaign
to secure health insurance legisla-
ton.
The cordial and almost urDrece-
dented welcome which this move
ment has already received in the
endorsement and approval of var
ious organizations and individuals,
in spite of the opposition OF strong
vested interests, and their indus
trious and insidious efforts to mis-
represent and injure the movement
would seem to indicate that the time
for seriously considering health in
surance in the United States is ripe.
The health insurance bills in gen.
eral propose the obligatory insur-
ance Of substantially all working
men and women. In case of sickness
the insured will receive medical or
surgical service, medicines and nurs-
ing and a cash benefit amounting
10 two-thirds of the weekly wages
of the insured for the period of ill
ness up 10 six months.
Benefits are paid for at cost by
the joint contributions of the insured
employe his employer and me state.
The cost TO the employe will average
about l II perC ent of his wages.
Some people have objected TO
making health insurance cOmpul-
sorry, but in this regard wOrkmen's
health insurance is like elementary
education. In order that its desir-
able results may be attained it must
be universal. and in order 10 be uni
versal IL must be obligatory. But
this compulsion will be no more a
limit on our liberty than Is our COM
pulsory education.
Health insurance will bring not
only decentralization against loss
nut also diminution of the loss it
self AS 10 decentralization. the cur
ious and melancholy fact is that out
side Of workmen's compensation the
workiugmen in this country have
made very little use of the insurance
principle.
Yet 10 is the wOrkingman whose
need OF health insurance is greatest.
because. first the worker is more
likely 20 lose his health than the
capitalist. for It Is well known that
the death rate. and therefore. the
sickness rate, among working peo-
lie, Is from two 20 three times that
among the weli-to-do-and. second.
because any loss from sickness is a
Tar more vital n tier 90 the laborer
than U the rich man, because the
workman at present cannot avail
himself OF necessary medical surgi-
cal and nursing aid When he most
needs IL he cannot pay for IT.
A. important as is insurance
against loss. il is far less important
than prevention OF illness itself. Ac-
cording 20 the calculations OF the
national conservation commission. at
least - percent of the deaths now
occurring in. the United States are
unnecessary OF over $4,000 lives
could be saved annually. which