Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-08
Relief for Injured Panama
Canal Workmen Urged.
CITES DESERVING CASES
Some Held Up for Lack of Authority
Are Mentioned.
ASKS SUITABLE LEGISLATION
President Also Wants Power to Set
tie Claims Resulting From Geld snts
Prior to Act Of May 80, 1908.

President Taft today sent a special mes
sage to Congress urging relief for num-
Der of workmen injured on the Panama
canal prior to the passage of the act Of
May 80, 1908, which definitely fixes the
compensation to be allowed to injured
employees. or granted to their families In
case OF death.
The President cites number OF deserv-
ing cases wherein the government is
liable, but which have been held up for
lack of authority. He recommends that
suitable legislation be enacted authoriz-
ing the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
to act upon any claims for compensation
on account of death, which have hereto
fore been led under the act of May 30,
1908, and that authority be given the
President to settle all claims on account
Of death or permanent disability or malm-
ing of employees caused by accidents prior
to the relief act The message In full
fol .ows:
ITO the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatves:
II am transmitting herewith certain
papers relative to the cases of Alexander
1onba, Pedro Sanchez, John II. Cole and
Oscar +. Lackey, who were injured On
the isthmus prior to August l, 1908, while
III lit employment of lstnmlan Cana.
commission.
''CombaS legs were crushed, necessitat-
ing amputation, and he was still lying in
the hospital nearly two years after the
accident. The left arm and right hand,
except the thumb. of Sanchez were am
putated because of injuries received In a
dynamite explosion. Coles right hand
was cut off while he was at work on
fracture Of the spine which has perma-
nenfly disqualified HIM from doing any
thing but limited amount Of light work.
NO Authority Given.
I'm these and similar cases Of injury
received by employees OF the commission
prior to August !, 1908, there Is no au-
.hority for giving any pecuniary rehef to
either the employees themselves or to
their families, except that each emp.oye
was entitled to and was granted under
mis- contract of employment thirty days
meritorious sick leave with pay.
at needs no argument to establish the
obligation which the government of the
United states is under to provide relief
for its employees who are permanently dis
abled OF MANNED, and for the families of
those who are thus injured or killed,
through no fault of their own, while en-
caracter as that connected with the con-
structiOn of tie iSthmian canal. This OBJ
legation is recognized by the act of May
90, 1908, and by sec.lon 8 of the Panama
canal bill Oh. r. 1876, now pending be-
fore the Congress.
There are number of bills pending
before the Congress for the relief of cer-
tain employees who were injured prior to
August l, 1903, and among them a bill
for the relief Of Lackey. 1t seems right
that some general law should be enacted
which will enable a reasonable allowance
to be made to employees who were per-
manently disabled or manned and to the
families Of those who were killed In &C.
cidents occurring prior to that date
through no fault OF their own.
by the act approved May 80. 1908, the
widow, children or Dependent parents of
an employe killed in the course of haz-
ardous employment are entitled to receive
compensation for year at the rate the
employe was paid at the time Of his
death, provided a claim is filed with the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor within
ninety days from the date of death.
Claims Disapproved.
1.-THE families of employees living in
foreign countries, especially the families
of Spanish employees, In number of
cases were unable to file claim within
the limited time fixed. The Secretary of
Commerce and Labor has therefore been
COmpelloQ TO UlSdppTOSe HuHlDcT VI
claims which show that the claimants
were entitled to the benefits OF the act
The time limit for filing such claims
should be extended and the Secretary or
Commerce and Labor authorized to con-
slider and allow such CLAIMS as have
heretofore been filed.
II therefore recommend that suitable
legislation be enacted authorizing the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor to act
upon any claims for compensation on &C
count of death which have heretofore
been filed under the act approved May
20, 1905, and that authority be given the
President, under such restrictions as the
Congress may deem advisable, to settle
all claims on account of the deaht or
permanent disability or manning of en-
ployes of the isthmian canal commits
sion caused by accidents on the Isthmus
Of Panama prior to August l, 1905, for
which sucI, employees were not respons-
BILE.
"A draft of Il bill, substantially follow
ing the Panama canal bill now pending,
which I believe will meet the require
oents of the situation. has been prepaI ed
by the Secretary of War and is at the
disposition of Congress.
WILLIAM H. TAFT"