The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-09-11

70 cover their expenses. IL 10 INTEREST,"
ing to notc that this commission was
created at the request OF representa-
tiyss Of both employers and employees
This Is unquestionably step in the
right direction. and our own state OK
Michigan might we'll follow Its er-
ample.
In our states. liability for personal
injuries rests upon the principles Oh
the common law Of England. supple
mented somewhat by statutes and
court decisions. yet as long ago as
1880. England concluded that this sys-
tenn was insufficient and adopted q
stringent Employers Liability .act.
Even this proved unsatisfactory and In
1897 parliament adopted the Compen-
sation law based on the entirely new
principle that every business must
make measured compensation TO work
men injured in any way in the ordin-
sry course of employment. unless there
was gross fault on the part OF the en-
ploye. The workman is not required
TO prove negligence In the employer, in
order to secure indemnity. but only the
fact that he was injured in the course
OF employment. The amount Of in
demnity paid in case of injury or
death Is based upon the wages earned,
and ranges from $3.50 to 81, 500 in case
of death. with lesser amount for injur-
les. I mention these rates only by way
OF illustration. The proper rates TO be
adpoted here must obviously be mat
ter for careful investigation.
''Under the English system. the in
jured workman may choose whether to
bring suit for damages under the
common law and employers liability
act. or to take the indemnity given
under the compensation act. He can
not collect under both acts. but IL he
brings a suit for damages and fails,
he may still proceed under the compsn-
sation act. although the employer may
offset the costs incurred In the first
suit.
Experience has shown that injured
workmen much prefer the compensa-
tion law They obtain their iniem-
nifty without the delay and expense In
cident TO litigation and without any
controversy with their employers.
whether IL is desirable for us to
adopt the English system. or some
modification of that and the German
system. will not here stop to disouss
but wish to emphasize the point tnat
compensation to the employe. rather
than punishment OF the employer IL
the correct basis for whatever system
Is adopted. know that the large en-
ployers of labor are earnestly striving
TO protect and safeguard their employees
from injuries The theory of negli.
genoe upvn which verdicts are render
cd is in most cases mere legal fiction
Juries act on sympathetic motives
rather than because of any conviction
that the employer has been really neg
ligent In fact. think that the aver
age juror takes this method OF showing
his disapproval of our entire system,
through which only a small proportion
Of injured men get any redress what
ever. But In spite OF all precautions,
accidents and even deaths are unavoid-
able In every industry. The principle
OF compensation is that each industry
shall pay In such cases some just and
adequate amount. not as damages COL
lected for some alleged negligent en-
ployer. but ms q method OF fairly dis
tributing the extraordinary risks Of
civilization. Such payments become
part Of the cost OF production, like ex.
penditurss or broken down or worn n-out
machinery. and II required by law. 30
as 10 place a producer on the same
basis. would not be detrimental to the
employer.
I'm Germany, this result, Is accom-.
plished by system Of industrial In
surance. This system has Teen 90 de-
veloped as TO include not only acct.
dents, but sickness and old age pen
sions Accident insurance compulsory
for workmen and foiemen earning
less than t72o-per year. The premiums
are paid.entirely.by the employer. and
ARE collected IN assessments based upon
the wages paid, and the scale OF risk
In the business. Insurance is carried
In associations OF employers. regulated
by the government, and these associa.
tions insure those In the same or sim.
liar trades. thus practically placing
each industry by itself. The benefits
paid during disability, or after death
TO dependent relatives are based upon
the scale Of wages The death benefit
is an amount 70 times the daily wages
and a pension 10 dependent relatives
nm 20 an ss.or cant NJ fha daily x,aoa.