The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-05-12
Voluntary Insurance for Employees.

Is it true that corporations have nc
souls? Is it necessary for government
in the United States to step between
employers and employees in matters which
heretofore have been left for agreemeE!
among themselves?
These are questions often asked, and
answered variously, according to differ
enceS of experience and variations III
points of view. They cannot be intelli-
gently answered off-hand. Many great
employing corporations, railway and in
duStrlal, have voluntarily entered into ar
engagements for the benefit of their EN-
ployes which indicate considerations on
the part of their management having
more to do with fraternal spirit and gen.
erous policy than with narrow greed for
the almighty dollar.
Two plans announced within the past
few days are attracting keen atten-
ton at the moment from employers as
well as from employees all over the land.
One is the International Harvester Com
pany's provision for the insurance of
injured employees. Here is a condensed
statement of the company's undertaking
In case of death three years wages will
be paid, but not less than $500 nor
more than $1,000. Loss of hand or foot,
one and one-half years. wages will be
paid, but not less than $500 nor more
than $1,000. Loss of both hands and
feet or one hand and one foot, four
years wages, but not less than $4,000.
Other injuries, one-fourth wages during
first thirty days of disability; one-half
wages for the remainder of the time of
disability up to two years.
The other is the comprehensive en-
ploye insurance plan announced by
Chairman Gary Of the United Suites
Steel Corporation. For some years,
Chairman Gary says, the subsidiary com
panies of the United States Steel Cor
poratlon have been making payments to
men injured and u families of men
killed, i'll practically ali cases without re-
have amounted to more than $1,000,00O
year. Now a more thoroughly planned
insurance system, contemplating relief
payments for temporary disablement and
for permanent injury and indemnity in
case of death is announced, under which
benefits to the employees will be in
creased. The payments are entirely vol
untary by the corporation, and the en-
ployes are not expected to contribute.
Dung temporary disablement single men
will receive 80 per cent. of their wages
and married men so per cent, with an
additional per cent. for each child
under IL and 2 per cent. for each year
of service above five years. For perma-
nent injuries lump payments are pro-
vided. These are based upon the ex-
tent to which each injury interferes with
employment and upon the annual earn
ings of the men injured In case men
are killed in work accidents, their wild
ows and children will receive one and
one-half years wages, with an additional
10 per cent. for each child under 1G and
3 per cent. for each year Of service of
the deceased above five years.
Really there is something fine in volun-
tary assumptions of liability on a scale
like this. They could not be taken on
under the competitive conditions of in
dustry except by prosperous concerns.
They are i'll harmony with the highest
ethics. They are certain to have some
influence in arousing among workingmen
who are their benefcaries a feeling not
in harmony with the spirit of hate and
distrust which a certain class of labor
agitators and certain type of political
demagogues seek to foment in employees
against employers.