The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-01-30
Commission To DRAFT
NEW LIABILITY LAW
Governor, johnson Will Send Spe-
cial Message to Legislature
in a Few Days.
Recommending Appointment of
Commission as Asked by En-
ployers and Employees.

ST. PAUL. Jan. 2S.-Governor ]. A.
Johnson will transmit a special mes
sage to the legislature within a. few
days recommending the enactment of
a law to create a special commission.
which in turn shall make an investi-
cation with a view to drafting for the
next legislature a new employers liza
bility law, along somewhat the lines
Of the "workingmen's compensation
act" of England. 1t would include the
creation of state fund by tax on
earnings of concerns employing labor,
out Of which damages or indemnity
could be paid on a fixed scale for var
ious~ injuries and loss OF limbs. - ::
A COMMUNICATIONS which t1ae~gov-.
-ernor will base his message Iii iii The
form of memorial and petition, has
been. drafted and will soon be sub
mitted to the governor. It was drawn
by w. E. McEwen, Of Duluth, state
labor commissioner, and is also signed
by the legislative committees and rep
resentatives of the Brotherhood Of
Railroad Firemen, Brotherhood of
Railroad Engineers, Brotherhood Of
Railroad Trainmen, the president Of
the Minnesota State Federation of La
Dor, George M. Gillette, as president
Of the Minnesota Employers associ-
alton, Pierce Butler, as president of
the Minnesota Bar association, and
H. w. Mercer, as chairman Of the law
and order committee Of the Minnesota
Bar association.
Some Interesting Assertions.
1t is understood the memorial will
give some interesting statistical asser-
tions. For instance. that during the
past II years in the United States
there has been $3o,000,00o paid out
by the companies to claimants; but
that because Of the vast amount of
litigation that has been attendant--in
good part as the result Of "ambul-
ance chasing attorneys and others
only $15,000,000 Of the $30,OO0,OOO has
reached the parties VINO were injured
and who had right to the full
amount Of the claim allowed by the
companies.
The memorial to the governor is
drafted as a result Of conference
Jan. 21 of the parties vino signed it.
1t is understood the employers are
willing to have a reasonable gross
earnings tax established to create the
proposed >ecessary state fund.
The commission the legislature will
be asked to establish by the special
message of the governor will consist
of three members, a representative of
the employers Of the state, a repre-
sentative of the state bar, and a. rep
resentative Of the employees, to be @ap-
pointed by the governor. r.
Ready to Supply Data. -
Mr.. McEwen says he is ready to
supply the commission when named
with a large amount Of data, and will
devote much of the work Of the state
labor bureau the coming two years to
aiding the investigators. He believes
that the proposed workingmen's COM
pensation law would. result Beneficial
ly TO companies carrying insurance, to
the insured in getting them to full
amount of their claims, and to- all
those interested in fair and just settle
ments of damage claims. He says
that the United States Steel corpor-
alton, through its subsidiary compan-
les In Duluth ana along the iron range
Is greatly harrassed by Ambulance
chasers," who make it their business
to start damage claims and gobble az
much of the damages as they can get
Mr.. McEwen further asserts that 81
per cent of the st. Louis county
court cases are Of this character, and
that such cases cost an average OF
| 800 daY in Hennenin co,lntu