The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-06-10
PROTECT WORKINCMEN,
PRESIDENT DEMANDS

on the view announced nearly 20
years ago that principles of justice
and good sense demand that a
all the ordinary risks of his occu-
patton.
I'm my view, principles of justice
and good sense demand the very
reverse of this view, which expe-
rience has proved to be unsound
and productive of widespread suf-
fering. It is neither just, expedient
nor humane, 1t is revolving to judg-
ment and sentiment alike, that the
financial burden of accidents &C.
curing because of the necessary
exigences of their daily occupation
should be thrust upon those suffer
ers who are least able to bear it,
and that such remedy as is theirs
should only be obtained by litiga-
ton which now burdens our courts.
"As matter of fact, there is no
sound economic reason for distinc-
ton between accidents caused by
negligence and those which are I'M
avoidable, and the law should be
such that the payment of those ac-
cidents will become automatic in
stead of being matter for law
suit. Workmen should receive a
certain definite and limited COM
pensation for all accidents in in
dustry, irrespective of negligence.
When the employer, the agent of
the public, on his own responsible
ity and for his own profit, in the
business of serving the public,
starts in motion agencies which
create risks for others, he should
take all the ordinary and extraor-
binary risks involved; and though
the burden will at the moment be
his, 1t will ultimately be assumed,
as it ought to be, by the general
public.
only in this way can the shock
of the accident be diffused, for it
will be transferred from employer
to consumer, for whose benefit all
industries are carried on. From ev-
cry standpoint the change would be
a benefit. The community at large
should share the burden as well as
the benefits of industry. Employers
would thereby gain desirable GER
tainty of obligation and get rid of
litigation to determine it. The
workman and the workman's family
would be relieved from a crushing
load.
"The national government should
be model employer. 1t should de-
mand the highest quality of service
from it's employees and should care
for them properly in return. Con-
gress should adopt legislation pro-
viding limited but definite compen-
sation for accidents to all workmen
within the scope of the federal
power, including employees in navy
yard and arsenals. Similar legisla-
ton should follow throughout the
states. The old and inadequate rem
edy of suit for negligence would
then gradually disappear.
"Such a policy would mean that
with increased responsibility of the
employer would come increased
care, and accidents would be re-
lduced in number. The temporary
burden involved will not hamper
our industries. Long experience OF
compensation laws in other coun-
tries has demonstrated their bene-
fit. What we advocate Is only a
simple measure of justice, only l
step toward the goal of securing.
so far as human wisdom can secure,
fair and equitable treatment for
each and everyone of our people.
CAS- a corollary to the above let
me point out the extreme unwisdom
of the railway companies in fighting
the constitutionality of the national
employers liability law. No law is
more emphatically needed, and it
must be kept on the statute books
in drastic and thoroughgoing form.
"The railroads are prompt to de-
mand the interference and to claim
the protection of the federal courts
in times of riot and disorder; and
in turn the federal government
should see to it that they are not
permitted successfully to plead that