CHARITIES. The different German States, ex cept Bavaria and Alsace-Lorraine, have adopted uniform systems of poor laws, but there is no centralized system of administration. Each poor law district provides for its own poor, a resi dence of two years being the requisite time to de termine the place of settlement, although relief may be given by the local authorities of the district in which the individual has temporary residence, to be recovered from the community in which the settlement of the individual is fixed. The distinction between public and private char ity is not closely drawn.
The Empire has played a very important part in providing for the welfare of the masses and thus checking the possibility of destitution, through the establishment of compulsory insur ance against accident, sickness, and old age. None of the other leading nations have made provi sions of so comprehensive a nature for the benefit of the laboring classes. Insurance against sick ness, the first step taken, was first secured in 1883, followed in 1884 by the insurance against accident, and in 1889 against old age. Numerous benefit societies conducting insurance features, already in existence, were recognized by the Gov ernment, and allowed to act as agents in lieu of those appointed by the State, which subjected all such organizations to a uniform system and control. The division of administration neces
sitates an increased expenditure, and an attempt has been made to centralize the entire admin istration of the system in the hands of the State. In the insurance against sickness, two thirds of the premium is contributed by the workmen and one-third by the employer. In the insurance against accident, the employer class is responsible for the burden of contribution, but the relief to the injured laboring man is taken from the sick-fund for the first thirteen weeks, and it is only 'after the expiration of that period that the employer class becomes liable. Insur ance against old age is obligatory upon all la borers whose wages do not exceed 2000 marks a year. The premium paid is divided evenly between the laborer and the employer. The re ceipt of the pension begins when the one insured reaches the age of seventy. The insurance scheme has stood the test to the satisfaction of both employer and employed. In 1898 the insurance against sickness included over 9,233.000 workmen, while the accident insurance included 18,246,000 persons, and 512,000 received old-age annuities.