The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-02-07
Compensation for Employees
Hurt in Government Service

also very urgently advise that COM
prehensive act be passed providing for
compensation by the government to all
employees injured in the government ser
vice. Under the present law an injured
workman In the employment Of the gov
eminent has no remedy, and the entire
burden Of the accident falls on the help
less man. his wife, and his young chill
drcn, This Is an outrage. II Is matter
OF humiliation to the nation that there
should not be on our statute books a pro-
vision to meet and partially to atone for
cruel misfortune when II comes upon
a man through no fault OF his own while
faithfully serving the public. In no 9TH
er prominent Industrial country In the
world could such gross injustice occur:
for almost all civilized nations have en-
acted legislation embodying the complete
recognition OF the principle which places
the entire trade risk for Industrial acct
dents excluding. OF course, accidents
due to willful misconduct by the em-
ploye), on the industry as represented
by the employer, which in this case Is
the government, In all these countries
the principle applies to the government
just as much as to the private employer.
Under no circumstances should the In
tured employe or his surviving depend
ents be required to bring suit against the
government. nor should there be the re-
Quremcnt that In order to Insure re-
covery negligence In some form on the
part OF the government should be shown.
Our proposition II not to confer right
of action upon the government cmploye.
but TO secure him suitable provision
against Injuries received IN the course
OF his employment. The burden OF the
trade risk should be placed upon the
government. Exactly as the workingmau
is entitled to his wages So he should be
entitled TO indemnity for the injuries sus-
tanned in the natural course OF his labor.
The rates OF compensation and the regu-
latlons for It's payment should be speci-
fed In the law, and the machinery for
determining the amount to be paid should
In each case be provided In such manner
that the employe is properly represented
10 I'm Tn, oil av nr,a
the compensation should be paid auto
maticallv. while the application OF the
law in the first instance should DO vested
In the department Of commerce and labor.
The law should apply to all labOrers me-
chGnics, and other civilian employees NJ
the government of the United states.
including those In the service of thc
Panama canal commission and OF the in
sular governments
The, same broad principle which,
should amply to the government
cable to ali private employers. Where
the nation has the power II should
enact laws TO this effect. Where the
states alone have the power they should
enact the laws It is to be observed
that an employers liability law does not
really mean mulcting employers IN dam
ages II merely throws upon the en-
ploycr the burden OF accident insurance
against injuries which are sure to occur,
II requires him either TO bear or to dis
tribute through insurance the loss which
can readily he borne when distributed,
hut which II undlstributcd, bears with
frightful hardship upon the unfortunate
victim Of accident In theory, if wages
were always freely and fairly adjusted.
they would always include an allowance
rs against the risk OF injury. Just rs
certainly as the rate Of interest for mon
ey Includes nm allowance for insurance
against the risk OF loss In theory, "
employees were all experienced business
men. they would employ that part or
their wages which IL received because OF
the risk Of Injury TO secure accident
Insurance But as q matter OF fact. u
is not practical to expect that this VIII
he done by the great body Of employees.
An employers liability law makes IL
certain that II Will be done. In effect
by the employer and II will ultimately
Impose no real additional burden upon
him. -,
There IL special hill To which call
your attention. Secretary Taft has ur-
gently recommended the immediate pas
sage Of a law providing for compensation
10 employees of the government injured
in the work of the lsthminn canal, and
that $4,000 be appropriated for this pur.
pose each year I earnestly hope this VIII
bc done; and that n special bill be passed
covering the case Of Nardmaster Banton,
who was injured nearly two yenrs ago
while doing his duty. He Is now help
less 10 support his wife and his three
little boys.