The burden on the employers is certainly very heavy, seeing that for all kinds of accidents relief may be claimed; the only exception is in cases where the injury can be shown to be wilfully committed[85].

A British Blue-book issued on March 31, 1905, shows that the enormous sum of L5,372,150 was paid in Germany in the year 1902 as compensation to workmen for injuries sustained while at work.
[Footnote 85: For the account given above, as also that of the Old Age Insurance Law, I am indebted to Mr.Dawson's excellent little work, _Bismarck and State Socialism_ (Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1890).

See also the Appendix to _The German Empire of To-day_, by "Veritas" (1902).] The burden of the employers does not end here.

They have to bear their share of Old Age Insurance.

This law was passed in 1889, at the close of the first year of the present Kaiser's reign.