217 An Act of 1893 made certain changes in the law as to inquiry into the eligibility of all immigrants by the transporting steamship companies.

Its Administration. The steamship companies are made responsible for the condition of the immigrant; they are required to make examination into the moral, physical and financial state of the immigrant before supplying passage ticket. They are bound to take back, at their own expense, all such as are rejected on arrival at the port of destination.

At every port in the United States of America there exists a Government organisation for the effective examination of all immigrants, which rejects at discretion all such as are deemed undesirable.

Persons may be classified as ineligible :

(a.) On moral grounds.

(6.) On grounds of public health and comfort.
(c.) On economic grounds.

Or as

(d) Convicts, polygamists, prostitutes.

(e.) Persons mentally or physically diseased.

(f) Persons unlikely to be self-supporting; or under contract to labour.

Effects of Immigration.-The President of the American Federation of Labour, the Secretary of the Journeymen Tailors' Union of America, the Secretary to the Philadelphia Garment Cutters' Society, the Editor of Knights of Labour Journal, and many other representative men unite in the opinion that the immigration of low-class labour tends to lower wages and the standard of living, to destroy Trade Unions, and to introduce sweating.

Feeling in the States.-The universal feeling of economists, labour organisations, and the general public seems to be that regulation by the State of immigration is a necessity, and should have as its object the exclusion of criminals, paupers, and incapable persons.

REFERENCES. "Reports on the Volume and Effects of Recent Immigration from Eastern Europe into the United Kingdom," 1894. Parliamentary Report, 1/-. Reports to the Board of Trade," by Messrs. Schloss and Burnett, 1/7. (American Legis.....on and Practice-Nature and Effects of Alien Immigration into America, Aliens,' English Democracy."-Arnold White, and Article in March No. of Fortnightly Review.

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3.-PROVISION FOR OLD AGE.

REASONS.

)

1.-The extent of Old Age Pauperism.-According to the last return, published by the Local Government Board in 1892, 29% of the population over 65 were paupers. A third of this population is estimated by Mr. Booth and others to be well-to-do;" this third being deducted, the proportion of aged paupers in the labouring classes is roughly about one in two-and-a-quarter.

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2. The advantage of strengthening the hands of the Poor Law Authorities by enabling them to deal more stringently with able-bodied paupers and "incurables."

Economists of the first rank, clergymen like Canon Blackley, statisticians like Chas. Booth, are strongly in favour of some form of National Insurance.

The growth of a feeling of hopefulness and security would be of great economic value.

Objection 1.-That pauperism is mainly due to improvidence, drunkenness, idleness.

Answer.-(1) This cannot be so when the proportion is so large as 4 in 9, unless moderate indulgence in "workingman's luxuries" is to be called improvidence.

(2) Mr. Booth's statistics prove pauperism increases most rapidly after 65 (from 8 to 25 %).

(3) The majority of aged paupers are women, who are rarely intemperate, and have no chance of saving.

Objection 2.-That pauperism is created by lax administration of the Poor Law.

Answer.-More stringent administration is impossible without hardship, and would inevitably cause discontent and endanger the whole system.

Objection 3.-That general pauperism has diminished by one-half within the last 40 years, and that therefore we may look for its disappearance in the next 40 years.

Answer.—(a). Diminution mainly due to two causes:— (1) The greater stringency of Poor Law administration, which cannot be carried much further without a reaction;

(2) The wave of prosperity which followed the repeal of the Corn Laws, and which now appears to have exhausted its force. Further, the diminution has taken place entirely in regard to out-door relief: while there has been a great reduction in ablebodied pauperism, the reduction in old-age pauperism has been comparatively slight.

(b). Granting reduction during last 40 years, is our present condition satisfactory?

Why wait? Education was greatly improving when Education Act was passed..

Mr. Chamberlain's Evidence, laid before the Royal Commission, 1893, suggested three courses based upon a State Pension Fund with an annual grant from Parliament. It is assumed that the saving to the country on an amended administration of the Poor Law would be set off against the charge on the Exchequer.

Case I.-Pension after 65, no return in event of earlier

death.

The insurer (male) deposits £2 10s. Od. at or before age of 25*, State adds £10; insurer pays 10s. a year till 65. Pension of 5s. a week after 65.

Case II.-Pension after 65 or payment in event of earlier death; deposit 45; State adds £15; annual payment 20s. This secures (1) pension of 5s. after 65; (2) if death before third payment, deposits returned; (3) if after third payment, provision for widow for six months, and for children till age of 12; total not to exceed 12s. a week; (4) if no widow or children, £5 for funeral.

Cost.-Contributions would cover payments with interest at 2 per cent.; if 23 obtained, the odd may pay cost of

administration. It is suggested that the administration should be through the Post Office.

Case III.-Assistance to insurers.-Any person depositing with the State 30/- if male, or 25/- if female, and insuring in a Friendly Society for 2/6 or 1/6 a week respectively, shall have their pension doubled by the State at the age of 65.

In the Interests of the Societies. This State partnership with Friendly Societies would be to the interest of the Societies. Mr. Watson, the Actuary of the Manchester Unity, says:

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It is now time that the corner-stone of the edifice be "firmly fixed, for the foundation will always be unsound while "the possibility of unaided poverty during aged life is permitted." Mr. J. Lister Stead, a Past Chief Ranger of the Foresters, says:

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"Our present method is not complete without Superannuation as one of our fixed benefits."

Friendly Societies' deficiencies are caused by the difficulty of distinguishing between sickness and permanent inability to work from natural decay after 65.

State Interference.-The interference of the State with the Friendly Societies (if any) must, admittedly, be confined to the Superannuation branch, and it might be reasonably insisted that the Superannuation branch accounts should be kept absolutely distinct from all others, and that the funds for this particular purpose should be invested in Securities approved by the Government.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

Germany.-Insurance is compulsory on all wage-earners above 16, earning not more than about £95 a year.

The pension is given at 70, in amounts varying from about £3 15s. od. to £8 15s. od., contributed in the following proportions:-Workmen and Employers, two-thirds; the State, one

third.

Objection.-70 years is an age generally allowed to be too high to attract voluntary contributions.

Workmen say that the system affects wages,

France. The proposed legislation is not on strictly compulsory lines.

Pension to be given at 55. Varying from £12 10s. od. to £25. Workmen and Employers to find one-third; the State two-thirds.

Objection. Probably one of expense; 55 being a comparatively early insurance age.

Sweden.-Compulsory.

Pension available at 60. Amount from £5 to £10 15s. od. Contributed by Employers, one-half; Employed, one-half. The State gives an annual subvention.

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REFERENCES.-"Old Age Pensions and Pauperism,' C. S. Loch, 1/-. "The State and Pensions in Old Age," J. A. Spender, 2/6. Pauperism,' Charles Booth, 6d. "Fourth Special Report of the Commissioner of Labour, 1893, Compulsory Insurance," Carroll D. Wright, 4/6.