New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
Health Insurance
Bill Favored by
Prominent Women
Measure Is Characterized as
Only Measure That Will
Safeguard the Welfare of
Persons of Advanced Age

Prominent women in the state are
coming out strongly in favor of the
Davenport Donohue Health Insurance
Bill now pending in the State Legisla-
turc.
Mary Garrett Hay, chairman of the
New York City Suffrage Party, said:
There is no more important meas
ure up for the consideration of our
state legislators than health insur-
ance. While the leading organizations
Of women are earnestly backing it, the
great masses Of our women voters also
should help to make public opinion so
strong in it's favor that the passage Of
the bill will be considered imperative
by the members of our lawmaking
bodies at Albany.
Immediate Operation Urged
Health insurance is part Of the
programme of the new age, when the
worker shall receive more considcra-
ton from his employer and from the
state. Since it has been tried out in
several European countries and found
advantageous, it should Immediately
be put into operation in our own land.
"The health insurance bill, if passed
by the Legislature, will be boon to
the women of the working class. Not
only will it help unmarried women
wage earners over the periods of i'll
ness that few escape, but its mater
nifty benefit will prove a godsend to
thousands of mothers obliged to toll
for their daily bread.
bo "a
care that will be put within reach of
the women workers will perform what
will seem miracles to people accus-
toned to deny themselves these lux
uries Of scientific help"
Jane Adams has stated that her
years of experience at Hull House have
convinced her that social insurance Is
the only way the problem of sickness
can be met.
Health Insurance Advancing
Mary Beard, president Of the Ma
tional Organization for Public Health
Nursing-a woman in close touch with
public health problcms-in advocating
social health insurance, says:
ave public health nurses have
, moro conclusive evidence Of the need
for health insurance than any other
group in America. The future, to me,
seems typlicd by a vision of opening
doors. Surely some of the great ra-
tional economic reforms are coming
now. Health insurance is advancing
more and more certainly"
Or. Josephine Baker, director of the
Bureau of Child Hygiene Of the New
York City Health Department, says
that being baby is more dangerous
than being soldier, and adds:
"Why do babies run d greater risk
ho &c L
living conditions, undernourishment,
both Of babies and mothers, lack of
proper medical attention and INSULT
cient laws for the protection Of women
workers. A great peril to the babies is
the fact that mothers work just before
the babies are born and soon after
ward, which weakens them physically"
Necessity Is Obviated
"This necessity is obviated." said
John B. Andrews, Ph.D., Secretary of
the American Association for Labor
Legis lation, "by the provisions of the
Health Insurance bill which make it
possible for a working woman to re-
fraln from work during period of
eight weeks, during which time she
receives not only monetary COM
pensaton, but obstetrical care and adj
vice of nurse.
"Thls bill, if it becomes a law, will
provide medical care for a man or
woman while he or she is i'll, will pay
a financial stipend, provides a reason
able amount of dental care, and burial
benefits not to exceed 500.
More than that, it makes it posi-
pie Tor the middle class workman to
have the benefit of specialists ad-
wee and care. Heretofore, only the
very rich or the very poor could bene-
III by such care-the rich because they
could pay for 1T, and the very poor be-
cause they got it at public clinics.
81 believe" Mr. Andrews said. chat
Just as the Safety First slogan grew
from the workmcn's compensation law.
so Health First slogan will come
from the Health Insurance law, if it
becomes effective"