l or partial, during its
continuance; and, in case of death, funeral expenses, and from one to
two-thirds of the estimated wages, to the widow (or dependent widower)
and children, or to other dependent relatives. To secure the full
benefit of the plan it must be made the exclusive remedy, replacing
entirely the old remedy of suits for negligence. The employer should
be required to insure his risk, and general sentiment is moving
rapidly toward the plan of a state insurance bureau as the exclusive
agency.[3] For the administration of the system an accident and
insurance board should be created in each jurisdiction. Experience
shows the importance of careful attention to numerous other details,
and many amendments will be made as the needs become manifest in
practice.

Sec. 9. #Historical roots of sick-insurance.# Sick-insurance had its
origin partly in trade unions and in fraternal societies voluntarily
organized by workers, and partly in the system of public poor
relief. The voluntary societies were first recognized, regulated, and
encouraged by law (in some cases being given state subsidies), and
later, in some cases, being made compulsory for some classes of
members (i.e., such as miners and seamen). On these institutions have
been built the later state systems of social sick-insurance. This
movement had made large headway by the end of the third quarter of the
nineteenth century in various European countries. The two systems that
are the most typical and influential examples are those of the German
Empire and of Great Britain, the former local and the latter national
in organization. The British plan of national health insurance
promises to be on the whole of the greatest influence upon American
opinion and policy. However, the best informed American students
favor in some features the more decentralized German rather than the
centralized British system. While it is impossible to describe the
various systems in detail, the situation in the leading industrial
countries of Europe may be indicated as follows.

SICK-INSURANCE

_Voluntary_.

France, 1850, 1898 (voluntary except for miners).
Belgium, 1851, 1894.
Italy, 1886.
Sweden, 1891.
Denmark, 1892.
Holland (authorized private societies and poor relief).

_Compulsory_.

Germany, 1883, 1911 (voluntary for others with earnings
of $500).

Austria, 1888 (voluntary for some classes).

France, for miners, 1894.

Norway, 1909.