Arizona republican., 1909-10-01
EXTRANE0US
 RESOLUTION. Turned Down by American
 Mining Congress THE POLAR CONTROVERSY
A Discussion of Employers Liability The Tame Re port of the Committee on Revision of Alaskan Min ing Laws

mining congress devoted todays ses- sions to receiving the report of the special committee on revision or Alaskan mining laws, and adopted resolutions endorsing the Roosevelt conservation of natural resources policy and urging the creation of an inland waterways commission. and the discussion of a number of minor resolutions.
 The congress refused to recognize pr. Frederick A. Cook as the discoverer of the north pole, the committee on resolutions declining to act upon a resolution to this effect. introduced early in the day, .on the ground that 1t neither had evidence that Cook dis covered the pole nor competency to consider such evidence.
 The principal address of the day was a speech by David Ross. harbor commissioner of Illinois, on the sub ject of industrial accidents and em- ployers' liability laws.
 MT. Ross cited the provisions of the British workmen's compensation act. which requires hl case of death by ac- cident. a compensation equal to three years average earnings. and sdeclared that, on a similar basis, the addition of less than one per cent to the valuation of the coal product of the country would furnish sufficient revenue. in cluding the cost of administration, to cover the claims of the killed and in jured. while twelve hundredths of one per cent would perform like service in the case of all casualties occurring in connection with mining, manufac- turing and transportation in the United States.
 "Surely." he added. the ultimate consumer, whose welfare everyone is eager to protect would not object to this very slight increase if assured of the purpose for which it was made.
 Man" he said. should be placed industrially upon an equality with the machine. and the cost of a broken bone or other injury. like d broken wheel or spindle. should be classified as a legitimate operating expense, to be charged against the industry in question.
 Aside from the principle, there Is certainty about this method which should command the endorsement of every employer of labor" he continued. 'In the more dangerous trades. the occurrence of accidents is so regular, whether figured on the basis of men employed or work performed, as to make them a definite insurance risk, so that men investing their capital would know in advance what losses under this plan it would be necessary to anticipate and provide for, the diff ference being that instead of distribut- ing vast and varying sums in payment of court costs and attorneys fees. under the prevailing system. specific amounts. probably less in the aggre- gate. would be paid directly to those who are most entitled to it.
 "A consideration of the subject from this viewpoint must necessarily reject the proposition that any part of the money needed to liquidate such claims should be deducted from wages. While the suggestion that a fund be created to which employers and employees con tribute, is a decided advantage over the unbusinesslike method now ob- taining. simple justice requires that the burden be borne entirely by the trade or industry; that the cost of such production be charged against the business and that no portion of it be extracted from the wages of work ingrnen.''
 The commissioner asserted that system of vague and mysterious" laws has grown up in this country that Operates to defeat just and meritorious claims, which laws would cease to operate if the federal govern ment had the power of foreign gov ernments to regulate the conditions of private industry. He made particular reference to the fellow servant rule" which he denounced as "dignified legal fiction, an1 said it was credit to the federal government that, in respect to interests over which it had control. like that of interstate railways. man. ufacturing and other work performed by the United States government or its agents. the doctrine has been officially and effectively abandoned
 Casualty companies" the speaker continued. partly the consequence of the enactment of employers liability