The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-09-06
States His Position on En-
plOyers' Liability
is STRONGLY FOR IT
Has Dispute with Auditor Who Asks
Question and Tells Him It Is None
Of His Business Who Pays
His Travelling Expenses.

Fargo, n. D.. Sept. Gin an address
here yesterday before a great Labor
day crowd, Theodore Roosevelt com
mended the federal judge who was pre-.
siding and had introduced him because
tile Judge had declared himself in sym-
pathy with the laboring man. He re.
lefred to Judge G. X. Amidon Of North
Dakota
Fargo's labor day celebration was al
most spoiled By rain but the program
was carried out between the showers.
Alr. Roosevelt was on the speakers stand
at Island Park, where the principal ex-
ereises were held, when the heaviest
showers came up. lie put on his rain
coat. pulled his hat over his eyes, left
the shelter afforded by the canvass COW
ering Of the tent and went out into the
rain TO make room for two men whose
hats were being soaked.
Col Roosevelt in lis address spoke
Of employers liability" a. followsi
So It Is in the matter Of injuries to
employees. IN what is called employ
ers' liability" legislation other indus
trial countries have accepted the pm
tiple that the industry must bear the
monetary burden Of is human sacri
fees and that the employee who Is in
iured shall have a fixed and definite
sum.
The United States still proceeds Oh
an outworn aud euriously improper pFin-
ciple, in accordance with which It has
too often been held By the courts that
the frightiul burden Of the accident shall
be borne IN rs entirety by the very
person least able to bear it.
Fortunately, in a number Of states
in Wisconsin and in New York, for in
stance-these defects in our industrial
life are either being remedied Or else
are being made a subject Of intelligent
study with a view to their remedy. In
New York bin embodyiug moderate
compensation for accidents has already
been passed. Other states viii undoubt
edly follow in the same path.
The federal government has, 20 far
Is its own employees are concerned,
been the first to recognize and put into
shape this principle. However, this
pioneer law was not made comprehensive
enough; it does not cover all the EN-
ployees Of the federal government that
ought to come within its provisions, and
the amount paid for permanent dissbil
ity or death is entirely inadequate.
Nevertheless, it was great step in
advance 70 have this principle Of work
inemen's compensation accepted and EN-
bodied In the federal statutes, and the
recent action Of Congress in providing
for commission to study and report
upon the subject gives promise that the
same principle will soon be applied e
private firms that come within the juris.
dietion Of the federal government.
In introducing Mr.. Roosevelt, Judge
Amidon said that the people assembled
there should not forget that above nj
the occasion was one Of the laboring
men, who were holding their annual cele.
bration. Suggesting that laboring men
suffer wrongs that might be reached by
legislation, Judge Amidon added special
attention to the failure Of Congress to
enact a law providing for compensation
for laboring men when injured or for
their families in the event Of their death
while employed. Every government Of
Europe, with the exception Of Turkess
he said, had enacted such laws, elm
mating from the question Of compensa
tion all questions Of negligence and fix
ing definite amount To which The EN-
ployes should be entitled.
George B. Howley, president Of the
Minnesota State Federation Of Labor,
made an address,
@There is no man on the face Of the
earth that stands a. near or as dear
70 the laboring people as does Iheo
dore Roosevelt he said
Mr.. Roosevelt had short controversy
with man who said he was Socialist.
1t the end Of his address yesterday
afternoon at Island Park. AS the crowd
swarmed around the grand stand to
shake hands with the colonel. the man
,rowded through the throng and stepped
Upon the platform. He addressed Mr.
loudly; Colonel Roosevelt Il
who is paying your expenses on this
iripsp he demanded.
Il do not consider that any Of your