New-York tribune., 1906-12-30

wholly dependent upon him. His case, unless
ne can get some money Immediately. becomes
desperate He is tempted, therefore to settle
his claim for few dollars
If a workman lives in New York City, the
pressure exerted upon him by corporation
that wants to settle for comparatively small
amount is still more likely to make him yield.
In this city the courts are clogged with liti-
CATION that his case may stand two three
years on the calendar before IL even comes be-
fore a jury. And then, If the decision is in his
favor, he may have 10 wait for one appeal after
another
If an employee belongs to a labor union which
will fight his case for him and give him al
lowance while he is waiting, his condition is
little better. but not to any great degree. The
most liberal labor union allowance is only
small part of the wages he used to receive. and
the final sum with which he may be rewarded
by a jury will in most instances form small
barrier against future destitution. should he be
crippled for life. The average amount secured
by the ordinary workman in this country who
has been permanently ncapactated by accident
is only $3.50. For man who has been earning
81 to So day. with large family to support.
how long will such man last? These are some
OF the many points which those who support the
Presidents recommendation make in its behalf.
NOT A NEW SCHEME.
1t Is said Furthermore. that the President, in
asking for laws which will distribute the burden
of the stricken workman On the other members
of society, is advocating policy which is by
no means revolutionary 1t is not and
untried scheme. Indeed, America is said to be
behind Europe in not having adopted some sort
of industrial insurance system long ago
Australia, also, is said to be ahead of the United
States in this respect. for the Australian states
have enacted various laws by which the faithful
workman or his family receives compensation in
all cases of accident. 1t makes no difference
whether the employer is to blame for the in
jury of a workman or not. He has 10 pay the
costs in every instance The only exception is
where il is concluSively shown that the work.
man intended to harm himself.
Both in Europe and in Australia, where the
employer must in this way assume the cost of
accident, the result has been, as the President
said in his message, that ultimately the burden
is placed on the whole community. The wear
and tear of human beings. the same the wear
and tear of machinery. calculated by the
employer regular expense of production
and the prices of the commodities produced are
gauged accordingly. Therefore. some foreign
countries have enacted laws which determine by
set figures just what the ernploye shall receive
In case he is hurt temporarily MANNED for
life or. in case he is killed just what his widow
or others dependent upon him shall obtain.
In France. for example, If a miner is injured
while at work he is entitled TO a compensation
specified by law. 1t makes no difference whether
or not the employer is negligent In any in
stance. except where the workman wilfully in
jures himself is hurt while committing a
criminal act. the owner of the mine must make
indemnity. IF the workman is totally incapaci-
tated is injured badly that he cannot work
again in his lifetime he is to receive a pension
equal 10 two-thirds of his annual wages. If he
is partially incapacitated for life. that he
may do a little work. he is entitled to pension
of One-half his wages. If. the other hand
he is only laid up for a while. he is to receive
in the mean time one-half his daily wage, 10 be
paid tc him every day. including Sundays and
holidays
II a French miner is killed while I'm the dis
charge of his duty the different members of his
family entitled to pensions. The widow If
she is Childlcss. is 10 get one-ffth his annual
wages. and in case she remarries a lump sum
equivalent to her pension for the next three
years as quit claim. II the widow has one
child this child if entitled TO 10 per cent pen
sion II there two children. the two to-
gether arc to get % per cent three. 35 per cent
and four more. 40 per cent. If the children
are left orphans each is entitled to 20 per cent
until total of 60 per cent is reached. No child
over sixteen years of age is eligible.
Not only is the entire burden of paving these
pensions placed on the employer. but the latter
must also defray all the medical pharmaceutical
and funeral expenses, the last not to exceed
$40 30. Should the employer prefer however.
he may pay regular subsidy to meet these ex-
penses into the miners relief fund, which was
constituted by law on June % 1894 The sum
most be acceptable to the miners society Fur
thermore. should the employer wish to relieve
himself of making the periodical payment of
pensions. he may also pay a sufficient sum into
the national fund for old age pensions. which
Is national institution recognized by the
French government.
PAYMENT GUARANTEED.
one IF the chief difficulties with every Euro