Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1913 — RESENT TAX IN GERMANY [ARTICLE]

RESENT TAX IN GERMANY

Complalnt by Foreigners on New Insurance Levy—Workers Especially Feel Burden. Berlin. —Foreigners employed in Berlin and other German cities whose salary or income is >IOO a month or less are bitterly over the new government insurance law which went in effect the first of the year. This new law suspends all private sick insurance, which is replaced with a government Insurance system. It is compulsory on foreigners residing in the empire as well as on Germans. So far as foreigners are concerned. It affects principally teachers, governesses, office employes, etc. The annual cost varies from >5 a year for those whose salary does not exceed >125 a year to >7B annual premium for those whose salary is between >BO and >IOO a month. The law provides that half of the cost of insurance must be paid by the employer and half by the insured. As a salary of >IOO a month also calls for an' annual income tax of >7O, such an employe is compelled to pay >9 a month for tax and insurance. Should the insured leave Germany permanently during the first ten years he has no claim for the return of premiums paid and loses his rights to benefits under the act. As the majority of foreigners remain only two or three years, coming largely for the purpose of studying, few will have claims on the premiums paid. Only such persons as were insured in foreign Insurance companies doing business in Germany are exempted from the provisions of the law. There Is but one American company doing business in Germany.