Montana labor news., 1939-08-31

undermining of health-and thereto
self, either partially or totally, is tie
"The group I represent, approxi-'
mately five millions of wage earners
and those dependent on them, have
never had adequate medical care, so
that they were free to have a doctor
whenever needed.
"We do not have the medical or the
living conditions that would avert
disease. When sickness comes we
wait, hoping its development may be
checked and expense avoided.
Because of need for economy,
children's diseases and Affections are
neglected, mothers are made invalids,
premature old age cuts off useful
persons lives, adults in their prime
drop at their work.
Low Income Groups Are Hardest Hit
"All these things that workers
know in their daily living were con
firmed by the revealing studies by
the Committee on Costs of Medical
Care and by the United States Public
Health Service which have made it
clear that illness strikes with more
devastating force the families of
those least able to bear the expense.
"The number of days of disability
per person per year from disease, ac-
cidents and other i%mpairments for all
age groups is materially higher for
families on relief than for %non-relief
families, and for every age group
except that under Is years the num-
Der of days of disability is greater
for n%on-relief families with incomes
below $500 than for those above
that figure. The great majority of
wage earners receive less than ST.
500 per annum.
Accidents are more frequent and
more serious, judged in time of dis
ablement among persons in relief
families and %non-relief families with
incomes below $1,000 than in better
income groups. There is more i'll
ness and for longer periods among
the unemployed than among the en-
ployed.
obviously there is a close rela-
tionship between employment in
come, and health. Ill health may
force an otherwise self-sustaining
family to accept relief, and persons
on relief or unemployed can afford
little either of preventive measures
or of care for those needing it. The
consequence is plain in the longer
duration and more frequent ailments.
Chronic Diseases Smite the Poor
Chronic diseases lay a heavy bur
den on the economically weaker fam
lilies. The National Health Survey
of 1886 revealed that the relief
group suffered 81 per cent more
chronic illness than families with
incomes over $4,000, and non-relief
families with incomes under $1,000
had an illness rate AZ per cent high
er than the $4,000 group.
"Over half the persons for whom
chronic disease was reported were
under As years of age. This means
temporary or perhaps permanent dis
ability for many wage earners.
TN spite of the fact that more i'll
ness is suffered by persons of low
incomes, medical expenses are great
err for those of better incomes.
ut is clear that the well-to-do are
not receiving more than adequate
medical service. The average wage
e~arner's family receives less than it
should have of all such services.
Workers Lack Specialized Care
Surveys have pointed out repeat
edly the need for more specialized
care such as that for eyes and teeth.
"The limiting factor is income. The
family cannot afford mor attention
for its members, even though the
absence of early treatment may mean
prolonged or disabling illness later.
Our labor unions have attempted
to help our membership with the
problems of sickness. For the year
1887 we paid out over two and a
quarter millions in sick benefits, but
this was only a drop in the bucket.
1.-THE payment of unemployment
compensation to aid such persons as
are available for work seems to en-
phasize the plight of the sick work
ers whose need for income is even
greater.
National Plan Held Necessary
voluntary plans cannot meet the
problem of providing adequate med
ical car for all the people. There
must be national planning and APP