The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-04-19
HEALTH INSURANCE LAW
is SURE TO COME, SAYS
LABOR FEDERATION

ALBANY, N. Y, April 13.-"A
workmen's health insurance law is
sure to come just as workmen's
compensation came. Organized la.
Dor in New York has unanimously
endorsed it. We will keep on fight
ing for it until we get it."
With this declaration President
James P. Holland of the New York
State Federation of Labor threw
down the challenge of the workers
to opponents of the Nicholl health
insurance bill, at a hearing on the
measure before the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
The large committee room was
filled to overlooking. Keen public
interest in health insurance was re-
Elected in the spirited hearing. Rep
resentatives were present from more
than 115 labor organizations of the
state, the City Club of New York
and the American Association for
Labor Legislation, who assisted the
Federation in drafting the bill, and
other bodies.
Health insurance for wage earn
ers is an immediate need emphasized
by the great extent of physical dis
ability revealed in the draft and the
increased sickness hazards arising
OFT of the pressure of war upon in
dustries," said Commissioner James
NJ. Lynch of the State Industrial
Commission, speaking as chairman
Of the Federation's committee on
health. 1--WE are convinced that the
time is now ripe for the adoption of
this legislation to protect the work
ers and their families in time of
sickness. Private insurance COM
panies, operating for profit, are alb
solutely excluded. 1t has been care
fully prepared to meet labor's needs.
Trade union and fraternal sickness
insurance is not affected by the
bill"
A Health First" Movement
ut is now more than ever import
ant that we catch up with the allied
countries in legislation to conserve
the health of the workers." said
Secretary John B. Andrews of the
Association for Labor Legislation,
who reviewed the rapid progress
that public health insurance is max
ing in the United States. Besides
the advantages of health assurances
to wage earners, employers and the
public growing out of medical and
maternity care and cash benefits,
the financial incentive for prevention
of sickness will result in a great
movement for health first similar
to safety first"
Miles M. Dawson, consulting &C.
tuary of New York City, favoring
the bill on behalf of the City Club
said that sickness is responsible
for seven times as much restitution
as industrial accidents and health
insurance will be of even greater
benefit than workmen's compensa-
ton, which is now everywhere &C.
copied. although at first it met with
the same kind of opposition that now
appears against health insurance.
Answering charges by the oppos-
ing interests that this labor legis-
lation is "un-American," Rose Sch
neiderman, President of the Women's
Trade Union League, declared that
"this country was founded on the
principle of caring for the welfare
of the people. Protective legisla-
tiOn for labor is in accord with the
spirit of American institutions. We
workers favor health insurance, in
GLIDING the maternity benefits, be-
cause it will help to make the con-
dition of wage earners easier to
bear"
Among opponents of health in
surance appearing at Albany were
several doctors who still fight health
insurance here as it was fought at
the outset five years ago in England,
where the Lloyd-G George act is now
generally approved by the medical
profession as well as by the insured
workers.