The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-03-22

and expressions that have been re-
Gently uttered by men holding high
places. In discussing this subject, Ex-
PRESIDENT Roosevelt said:
In spite of all precautions exer-
cised by employers there are unavoid-
able accidents and even deaths in
volved in nearly every line OF business
connected with the mechanic arts
This inevitable sacrifice of life may
be reduced to minimum, but it can
not be completely eliminated. It is a
great social injustice to compel the
employee, or rather the family Of the
killed or disabled victim, to lear the
entire burden of an inevitable sacri-
fee. In other words, socie.y shirks
| its duty by laying whole cost on the
victim, whereas the injury comes from
what may be called the legitimate
risks of the trade Compensation for
accidents or deaths due in any, line
of industry 10 the actual conditions
under which that industry is carried
on SHOULD lie paid by that portion of
the community for the benefit OF
which the industry is carried on-that
| is, by those who profit by the indus
try. II the entire trade risk is placed
upon the employer he will promptly
and properly add to the legitimate cost
of the production and assess it proper
tionately upon the consumers of his
commodity. 1t is, therefore, clear to
my mind that the law should place
this entire risk of trade upon the
employer. Neither the federal law
nor, as far as | am informed, the
state laws dealing with the question
of employers liability are sufficiently
thoroughgoing."
| And, at later time, Mr. Roosevelt
! further said:
| definite and limited compensation for
all accidents in industry, irrespective
of negligence"
1 The foregoing we'll expresses the
present trend of thought. The average
employer of labor, or officer of cor
poration employing labor, soon be-
come impressed with the helplessness
of t e men who are obliged to depend
upon their daily wage for their daily
living. They soon realize the respon.
sibility of the master in respect to the
care that he must give to these men
who, not by any fault of their own
are compelled to exc out their exist
ence by mere manual work; burdenei
with large families; without oppor
tunities to rise in the world; unable
, because of constant demands that are
made upon them. to lay by savings fol
the future. If it were not for the i'm
positions created by the present plant
if there could be limit to the liabil
!, ity, if there could be plan evolved
, by which these men could become eve
. SO small a partner in the schem,
> most employers would gladly welcom
a change from the present situation 0
q affairs.
5 Legislatures are now giving thes
;. propositions attention. In Minnesot
s commission has been appointed t
s report plan of adjustment of pei
!. sonal injury claims, and there is no,
l. pShNiAi5 III SohSsiOoo PiOpOoSu tS6A'ie
i. ton of similar character.
0 1t seems to me that plan worke
out, the details of which could nc
s. be suggested at this time, but invol'
+ ing the following of general principle!
e is one that would greatly improy
e present conditions, and would enabl
r society to more nearly perform it
it duties to those who are obliged
o make contribution by life and limb t
e the exigencies of commercial life:
j 1st Provide that there shall be
a liability of all employers of labo
d whose employees are engaged in th
v operation of railways, street and il
v terurban lines, steamboats, and ship
Is mines, quarries, factories, structur;
1t building and agricultural pursuits
d which work is required in and abol
e machinery operated by steam or e'e
IS tricity intending to exclude person
ir engaged in domestic, agricultural,
o other labor not requiring the use
n. machinery, or only using simple {
t. hand tools.
id End. This liability to cover all pc
L, sonal injuries except those which al
" the result OF willfulness or design c
is the part of the person injured, (
N where such person is injured in tt
lie commission OF an unlawful act.
re 3rd The liability of the employ,
e. to be limited:
IN A. If lump sum is paid, to
b, limited to certain number of year
in earnings of the injured party, say n,
te to exceed FIVE years, and not to e
S, coed $4,000.
s. B. If the recompense is in IL
s, shape of pension, the sum paid [
IN be proportionate to the annual ear
al ings; in case Of death, the pensio
e. to be determined upon the number
by persons actually dependent upon IL
on deceased; in case of disability, d
Id pendent upon the character of the di
IS, ability, and the number of those wi
he are dependent upon the party injure
ul For instance, a surviving widow, If q
ON pendent, receive an annual pension