Milford chronicle., 1922-06-23
UNIVERSAL PENSIONS
(con1municated)

A system of insurance and pension
combined under governmental supervis-
ion and control is an unavoidable and
growing necessity A proper care of the
unfortunate and the aged ought not to be
left to the option of relatives or any pol
icy of professional life. How often is it
witnessed that one relative will wait to
see what other relatives are doing to-
ward the care of a loved one and so they
all in a measure wait upon each other
and then through all that ineXcusable
waiting want and suffering are entailed.
And often too this unfortunate situation
obtains-one relative must meet all the
responsibility, care and expense While
others shift or shirk any responsibility.
While the work rendered and the ex-
pense incurred should be and often is a
love service yet that is a good reason
why the blessing and moral profit of
such a service should be distributed and
every one obligated receive a rich re-
ward. An insurance program whereby a
small tax levied upon all alike, between
the ages of thirty and sixty, and so en-
abling the government to care for the
dependent from seventy upward will GER
tainly meet a nationwide want. Such a
system could well be called an "Insur-
ance and Pension System Combined" Z"
Unlike the great war program, costing
billions of hard-earned money and in
volving the destruction of life and prop
erty, this system many times less ex-
pensive but involving the protection of
life and property. There are three fea-
lures in this plan suggested of incal-
culable benefit. First, every one can real
ize that he has a part in a beneficial
work; second there is a promise of in
terest and protection the most reliable
and last and thirdly, greater loyalty to
government will inevitably ensue. The
pension system is becoming more and
more popular in professional life. Various
lines of business are using it now and
the same is true with organizations, but
the helpful effects cannot be so general
and we'll diffused as will obtain through
a governmental plan. 1t is becoming
more and more evident that anything
fostering a class spirit in the rank and
file of our citizenship is most harmful to
national life. But an universal old-age
pension system will help in the effectual
prevention of such a spirit Honor thy
be long upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee" Such a divine law
applies to national life as well as indiv-
idual life. The care of the aged is a ma
tional responsibility. And the nations
health and the nations perpetuity wait
upon a strict obedience to that divine
mandate. Life is not to be destroyed but
preserved and protected! Great moral re-
forms are not enhanced by the disregard
of life. To be sure great reformers have
laid down their lives and have said with
the great apostle, neither count I my
life dear unto myself" but their deed
was in the defense and protection of life.
And with the greatest of all reformers
they could say too, 1T is eXpedient that
I go away" and with Him they became
in a true sense emancipators to suffer-
ing humanity. Christian brotherhood
waits upon such benign measures like
the care of dependent aged by govern
mental supervision and regulation. 1.-The
powers that be are ordained of God,'' and
that is religion in government.
E. H. PARKINSON.