nove the Sents Is of ns of assi them nfess court poor which still name ved a uld. I worthy. self to thrift free libraries, etc., are cases in point. paid for out of taxation would have noth romically, in common with pauperism."* plan of selection is possible except at sac select the poor is to pauperize, to select th To do either is to humiliate."**** In favor of the universal plan is also cheapness of administration. This syste or troublesome conditions of eligibility, details. Many of the objections to the univers stated in the discussions of the compul systems. What has been brought agains apply equally as well, and even more so, ag Additional objections offered are: (1) versal scheme is obviously the most costly it is pointed out, that to give a pension and wealthy who do not need them-is a w are also objections against the giving of p undeserving persons such as criminals or criminals and paupers within the pension sible on any ground of individual desert o sons clearly have no claim to a pension, w deserving and respectable aged poor. M sioning the industrious and thriftless, the *Charles Booth, "Pauperism and the Endowment of Old ***Quoted by Massachusetts Commission, p. 241. Congress, Federal Labor Department, Ar Labor Legislation, and the New York public more complete information. Most of the d chapter have, therefore, been taken from re "Report of a Special Inquiry Relative to A sons in Massachusetts," 1916; I. M. Rubin 1913, and such bulletins of the Internation available, in addition to the various official that have recently reached this country. 1 out that, altho, the consideration of the sul is comparatively recent in this country, it ha constituted a problem of great significance Iore than a half a century. At the present foreign governments-including all the lead -and three States in the Union, as well as have enacted legislation of one form or a problem. The divisions in this chapter are the nature of the pension system in existen compulsory, or non-contributory. are presented in alphabetical order. The co I. VOLUNTARY AND SUBSIDIZED S The Belgian "General ally established in 1850. attempts were made to INSURANCE. BELGIUM. Savings and Retir During the 50 yea attract a greater n the form of premiums which are added to the red. Governmental premiums cease when the insured are sufficient to secure an annuity governmental allowances were rather small ar iently attractive to the old people. The am increased in 1903, so that the government ga e hundred per cent. on the first six francs ( person, who on January 1st, 1903, was betwee 45; for those persons who were between on that date, the subsidy rose to 150 per cent per cent. on the first 6 francs ($1.16), to thos 50 years old at the time the law was enacted. bsidies may be seen from the following figures. of insured was only 10,000 and under the infl = began to grow, though slowly, and by 18 ,000. The systematic granting of subsidies or 0, in one year doubled the number of depositors half a million. The increase in the rate of subs the number to 636,000, and by 1910 it was well nmediate problem of old age relief, the Belian tion to subsidizing savings, practically establi orary straight old-age pensions. A straight per persons 65 years of age and over, if they were I had been residents of Belgium for at least one plication for relief. They must also have been w ial Insurance," p. 342. francs ($3.47). This was to have ceased o law of May 11, 1912, made a further ex longed to the last named age group at th act, which was to have prolonged it to 19 the Belgian fund has proved more succes obviously due to the extreme measures u itors. The subsidies, in many cases, amo governmental grants. It is also claimed the average annual payment per account i decreasing. and per The uence 99 it dered s. In sidies 1 over n gov lished ension Te Bel e Tear > work CANADA. In 1908 the Canadian Parliament pas issuing of government annuities for old passed in 1909, in 1910 and in June 19 and commerce, under this act, is authori any person domiciled in Canada for th ferred annuity, as follows: "(1) For th for a term of years certain, not exceedin nuitant shall so long live, (3) for a term ing 20 years, or for the life of the annui be the longer. Also for an immediate or persons domiciled in Canada during th without continuation to the survivor." No annuity can be granted on the life o of the actual annuitant. It cannot be le total amount payable by way of an ann year. Except in cases of invalidity or di *Twenty-fourth Annual Report of United States Commi **Ibid., p. 512. |