The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-09-11
TEXT or THE PAPER READ BY HlmAr
THE. MINING INSTITUTE
03yOcATES A CHANGE OF LAWS
Would Appoints Commission to Invssii-
gate the Laws Of Other States and
Countries.

Aho uupJoct VI oupsoyoho hoohAsJ
law has been before the public contin-
nously for a number of years and is OF
world wide concren. The following
extract from an address delivered by
Mr.. Duncan OF the Cleveland Cliffs
company before the Lake Superior
Mining institute will be read with .
great deal OF interest:
~ desire this evening TO call your
Asttention briefly to the urgent neces-
sity for change in the laws govern
ing personal injuries. At present
workmvn have no protection or rem
edy for accidental injuries. Employ
ers are.only liable for negligent injur-
les, that is. such as result from the
neglect on the part of the employer of
some duty the law imposes upon him.
This leaves out OF consideration all
injuries growing out OF momentary
thoughtlessness or carelessness Of the
employe or his fellow workmen. A
large proportion (estimated as high as
75 per cent? OF all the injuries received
by workmen In this state are due 10
causes for which the employer is not
legally liable. The entire burden grow
ing out OF such accidents is thus plac-
cd upon the injured man, or In case OF
his death upon his family, except as
relieved by charitable or philsnthropic
contributions on the part OF the en-
ployer.
Public sentiment demands and pub
lie policy requires the adoption OF laws
which will give employees adequate
compensation In case OF accidental In.
jurIes. as we'll as for those which
have called negligent injuries Our
present system is unjust from an eoo-
nomic standpoint and has been dis
carded In every industrial country In
xhe world except our own aud Canada.
rnder our form OF government, feder-
al laws governing this question. ex-
cept possibly @ applied TO interstate
commerce. are not constitutional and
therefore each state must act indcpsn-
dent. Up to this time nothing has
been done. except that some states have
enacted laws removing or modifying
certain legal defenses which were here
tofore available against employees in
PERSONAL injury suits.
"This has not proved to be salts
factory.way Of helping injured work
men or their families. On the con-
trary. 1t seems rather TO be system
devised to help energetic and unscru
pulous lawyers. In such states class
OF practitioners has grown up to prey
upon both the injured empioye and the
employer. They demand from the In
jured workman or his family large
compensation. usually one-half. OF all
that Is recovered. or their alleged legal
services and on the other hand they
seek by every means, often not hesitat-
ing at fraud or prejury. to secure large
verdiots against the employer regard
less OF the merits OF the case. Such a
system Is thoroughly bad, legally and
morally. II creates distrust OF the
courts and constant irritation between
employer and employe.
employers OF labor are beginning
to understand the economic yalue OF
human life, and the importance from
"A business standpoint Of protecting
Nand caring for their employees This
10 shown by the adoption OF new sp-
pliances aud safeguards to prevent in
juries. IL 10 shown In the erection OF
club rooms and libraries, and In the
maintenance OF hospitals and the en-
ployment OF nurses and physicians.
But IL is time TO 80 step farther and
make zach industry provide suitable
compensaiton.to the injured workman
and In case OF death 10 his family and
10 do this In way which will promote
better relations between the workman
and his employer.
'l will not attepmt to do more than
10 suggest remedy. ] think that In
order 70 enact laws which will be just
10 both employer and employe care
Tfnvestigation should be made Of the
systems adopted In other great indus
trial countrieA and the result obtained
thersfrom. a. well a. the collection Of
data In respect 10 accidents, and the
various methods OF dealing with them
In this country.
"At the last session OF the Mime
sots Legislature. commission was Gre.
atsd 10 make such an investigation.
and submit written report with II,
Recommendation 70 the Legislature Of