The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-02-27
JOINT ooA414lITE E or " :.
TWO HOUSES CONFER
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Ny any pan E4lat would bring about
a solution Of the difficulty WHICH
would work equitably all around. The
proposal submitted by the conference
was new one in legislation, he said,
and az all social legislation was
necessarily experimental, why not try
this? Speaking generally, he expressed
the opinion that In any legislation on
the subject it would be best to elm
mate all the old common law defenses,
such as assumption Of risk, negligence
and the feiiew-servant's rule, stating
that an yharadship that might result
from such course would be less than
what now obtained in forcing the class
least able to bear any burden, to
shoulder the greater part Of all the
burden incident to injuries.
German Central Alliance Favorable.
C. B. Smith, a. member of the legis-
latlye committee on liability legigla=
ton appointed by the German Central
ALLIANCE of Minnesota, was the next
speaker. He said that the executive
authority Of the organization to which
ne belonged had carefully considered
and warmly approved the plan known
as the commission plan" for reach
ing a solution Of the employers liabil-
ity problem; but that the orgaaiza-
ton, while approving this PLAN hal
expressed an earnest desire that the
pFposea commission be made nauci,
larger, and that its scope and luties
be greatly enlarged, Mr., smith said
further that the abrogatian OF the
common law aefenees under the pres
ent system would kill every small in
dustry in the state, and that it would
be unwise for the legislature to enact
any hasty LEGISLATION which would in
1ure either laher Or CAPITAL.
Van lear sReeks for Msehinls&s,
Thomas Van Lear made the next
address As a representative Of the
raaehinists employed en- the railroads
in Minneaeta. He said he disliked
to strike 4 dlseeEaant note in the
general naFfneny that seemed to pre-
vail, but that IN his opinion the time
had came for the state and the nation
to step in and settle the controversy,
for 4 has heen Demonstrated that
employers and employees cannot do
this. Mr.. Van Lear aid not oppose
tae appointment Of a commission Or
the work naPpea out tor It, which
he thought Hsaisht result IN great good
Ter aH the parties eeneerned, hut he
was Arm IN the conviction that law
could be passad by the present legis-
lature that would be Of substantial
benefit, and cited the German and
English statutes as presenting some
thing in the right direction, He
claimed that the whole matter should
be provided for in some well-regulated
way so that the injured and their
dependents might be properly cared
for, not as an act of charity but Of
simple Justice.
MsEwen clesee the speakins,
President Howley Of the State Fed
Grafton Of Labor called attention to
the fact that Labor Commissioner
AeEaWen was present to speak for
labor Il the committees desired to
hear anything further On that side of
the question. Mr. MeEwen was called
for and made a calm. logical and
effective address Ia which na reviewed
the Whele argument briefly and save
the commission plan a decided boost,
He and other speakers were closely
questioned by members OF the COM
rnittee, and at the conclusion of some
spicy sparring the hearing was adj
journed sine die.