The daily sentinel., 1908-01-31
S
: Message

( Continued from First Page.)
can sonstitutionally y apply, but
strengthening its provisions within
this scope. Interstate employment
being thus covered by an adequate
national law. the field of Interstate
employment will be left to the ac-
tion of the several states. With this
clear definition of responsibility, the
states will undoubtedly give to the
performances of their duty within
their field the consideration the I'M
pOrtance of the subject demands. I
also very urgently advise that q COM
prehensiye act be passed providing
for compensation by the government
to all employees injured in the gov
ernment service. Under the present
law an injured workman in the en-
ployment of the government has no
remedy. and the entire burden OF the
accident falls on the helpless man,
his wife and his young children. This
is an outrage THIS. IS sA7MATTER
OF HUMILIATION TO THE Ma
TION THAT THERE SHOULD NOT
BE ON OUR STATUTE BOOKS PRO-
VISIONS TO MEET AND PARTIAL
| LY ATONE FOR CRUEL MISFOR-
TUNE WHEN 1T COMES UPON A
MAN THROUGH NO FAULT OF HIS
OWN WHILE FAITHFULLY SERv-
ING THE PUBLIC.
in no other prominent Industrial
country in the world could such gross
Injustice occur. for almost all civi-
lized nations have enacted legisla-
ton embodying the complete recog-
nization of the principles which place
the entire trade risk for Industrial
accidents Excluding. of course, ac-
cidents due to willful misconduct by
the employee) ON the Industry as rep
| resented by the employer, which in
this case Is the government. In all
these countries these principles Rp-
| ply to the government just as much
as to the private employer. Under
no circumstances should the injured
employe or his surviving dependents
be required to bring suit against the
| government, nor should there be the
requirement that In order to insure
recovery negligence In some form on
the part of the government should be
shown. Our proposition Is not to con-
| fer right upon the government en-
ploye. butfto secure him suitable pro-
vision against injuries,received In the
course Of his employment. The bur-
den of'the trade risk should be placed
upon the government. EXACTLY
| AS THE WORKMAN IS ENTITLED
BE ENTITLED TO-. INDEMNITY
FOR THE INJURIES SUSTAINED
IN THE NATURAL COURSE OF HIS
LABOR. The rates OF compensation
and the regulations for its payment
should be specified 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
i without expense to him. In other
words, the compensation should be
paid automatically, while the appli-
cation of the Law in the first Instance
should be vested in the department
Of commerce and labor. The law
should apply to all laborers, mechan-
les and other civilian employees of the
government Of the United States. In
/ cluding those In the service of the
Panama canal commission and insu-
lar governments.
"THE SAME BROAD PRINCIPLE
WHICH SHOULD APPLY TO THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD ULTI-
MATELY BE MADE APPLICABLE
TO ALL PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
WHERE THE NATION HAS THE
POWER 1T SHOULD ENACT LAWS
| To1THIs EFFECT. Where the states
alone have the power they should
enact the laws. 1t is to he observed
that an employers liability law does
not really mean mulcting the EN-,
ployers int damages. 1t merely
throws upon the employer the bur
den of accident insurance against In
juries which are sure to occur. II
requires him either to bear or to dis.
ALL lN,<s Il. -.
which can readily be borne when dis
tributed, but which, II undistributed
bears with frightful hardship upon
the unfortunate victim of accident
In theory. II wages were always free
| ly and fairly adjusted. they would
always include an allowance as
against the risk OF injury. just as Ger.
tainly as the rate of interest for mon
/ ey includes an allowance for insur-
ance against the risk of loss. II
theory, II employees were all exper
fenced business men, they would EN-.
ploy that part OF their wages which
Is received because of the risk of In
jury to secure accident Insurance
But. as matter Of fact. 1t is not
practical to expect that this will be
done by the great body OF employees
An employers liability law makes Il
certain that 1t will be done. in effect
by the employer. and 1t will ultimate
ly impose no real additional burder
upon him.
There is a special bill to which ]
call your attention. Secretary Taft
has urgently recommended the I'M
mediate passage of law providing
for compensation to employees of the
/ government injured In the work OF
the isthmian canal and that $780,
900 be appropriated for this purpose
each year. earnestly hope this will
be done and that a special bill be
passed covering the case OF Yardmas.
ter Banton. who was injured nearly
two years ago while doing his duty.
He is now helpless to support his
wife and his three little boys.
81 AGAIN CALL YOUR ArTEN-
TION TO THE NEED OF SOME AC-
TION IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ABUSE OF INJUNCTIONS IN La