New-York tribune., 1919-03-17
Drive Opened to
Obtain Action ON
State Health Bill
Women's Committee and
Organized Labor Start
Campaign for Industrial
Insurance Programme
staf Correspondence GO


Albany. March 16.-The Women's
faint Legislative Conference, aided by
.rvsnized labor, will make a drive
M. week for reporting out the Daven-
,ort.Donohue health insurance bill
c;ncs its introduction this measure
,bs biggest Of the so-called welfare
,.eislation sponsored by the w. j. L.
z and the State Federation Of Labor,
sss been amended in several particu-
lars.
One defines "employe" as "me-
.banic, working man, laborer, clerk,
bookkeeper, or person of similar grade
Of employment, including foreman, but
not Including superintendents, man.
soers or officers" Another meets the
objections of physicians to the bill.
Az amended doctors will be paid ac-
eording to services rendered in ac-
eordance with a schedule Of fees
approved by the Industrial Commits
sion. In its old shape physicians
would be under salary.
Another amendment permits the
choice of physicians by the patient,
thus doing away with the panel of
musicians originally planned. A fourth
amendment provides that state and
local and other advisory boards deal
ing with medical and other technical
matters shall be appointed by the In
dustrial Commission.
Believes Method Economical
In q statement to-day Miss Mary
Dreier, chairman of the Women's Joint
legislative Conference, said:
u aHealth insurance is just and
economical method of meeting the
costs of sickness. Established on 8
mutual local basis by state law, it will
divide the expenses equally between
employees and employers. The State
Industrial Commission will divide the
state into districts, as far as possible
following county lines, each of which
must contain at least 5000 insured
workers. In each district the commits
sion may establish, after public hear
iurs, mutual local trade or establish
ment funds.
"These boards will establish premi-
um rates for their respective districts
Where a sickness hazard in any es-
Enlistment is greater than the aver
age the rates will be correspondingly
higher. Where sanitary conditions are
good and where the progressive en-
ployer introduces protective health de-
vices the rates will be lower.
ut is estimated that the weekly rate
will be about twenty-four cents from
the employer and the employe, far
cheaper than that of commercial in
surance companies.
State to Aid in Cost
"The cost of local administration
will be covered by the local rates. The
cost of general supervision will be
borne by the state. 1t is estimated
that the cost of this supervision will
be approximately the same as that
for workmen's compensation, which ie
,sS60000 year.
I'VE believe that health insurance
will prevent debt and destitution due
to sickness. In New York State alone
. yearly wage loss from sickness is
estimated as more than $40,000,00O
Sickness causes six times as much
dependency as industrial accidents.
Health insurance makes special pro.
vision for the medical, surgical anc
nursing care of mothers and theil
babies. For working women it es
tablishes a special maternity cash
benefit for two weeks before the birtl
Of the child and six weeks afterward
Health insurance is a demonstrated
success. In eleven European countries
heluding Great Britain, it is alread,
Ia operation"