The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-29

been too cheap 10 protect give tne
babies a chance
That was part of the publicity pat
tie turned on big business in oregon
by organized labor this last Novem'
Der: today Oregon has real, sure
enough employers liability law.
For years the worst conditions re-
garding the projection OF labor dis
graced Oregon. Today Oregon has
the broadcast liability law in the ma
ton. The sudden change didn't
come by itself.
The step ahead started in the
ranks of the electrical Linemens
Union. The light and power trust
maintained deadly wires on rottinS
poles: linemen died, fixed juries from
the coroner's office to the circuit
court, prevented redress for the
widows and babies. Eighteen linemen
were burned to death pr crushed to
death, or fell to death with tumbling
poles, in a few months in Portland,
and big business merely smiled and
proceeded to send more men TO
death. For babies are born and
there are lots of voorhees, men,"
Non-suit judges; system OF
sleuths maintained by the trusts
claim department; the picking Of jur-
les and the control of the legal stu
alton made II easy to kill men and
grin.
So, the linemen took their fight to
the Central Labor Council, the coun-
ell finally got behind the fight, and
an employers liability law was ini-
tiated that was real protective law,
as we'll as a certain recompense for
the stricken family.
The measure went on the ballot
and then big business paved the air.
1T will kill business" shouted the
interests: and the political guns were
brought TO bear on the measure
through every subervient avenue of
publicity.
Beaten all along the line prior to
the state election, as last resort big
business got up liability law itself;
Taftian measure that appointed a
board to think the matter over, ana
offer TO the Legislature in the course
OF few decades something resemb-
ling a measure. This was put on the
ballot in the hope that the voters
would be confused between two liabil-
ity laws, and either vote for both or
neither
But labor, and the grange, and the
free press OF the state talked heart
70 heart with the voters, and last
November saw the real liability
measure become a law, and the fake
one defeated.
What is this Oregon law?
First, II forces all contractors, own
ers, sub-contractors, corporations or
persons engaged I'm construction
work, manufacturing. operation OF
machinery, transmission OF electricity
or hazardous employment TO select
materials, test them. inspect them,
and make them as safe as they would
be If the men who had to work with
them had the say about things. Every
device, care and precaution possible
Is the general law now, and IL death
or injury comes the fact that any
precaution was omitted, is proof
enough that the corporation or ON
ployer was responsible which is some
different from the old game of killing
a man, and then making his family
prove that II was not his own care
lessness. or the negligence of a fellow
servant
Under this law the head OF the cor.
poration, or contracting firm. or the
rea, man higher up, is responsible 1t
rectly and personally his bosses and
foremen and managers are merely his
agents; he Ia responsible for their
acts himself, and their acts are his
doom, In case OF just suit for dam
ages.
So the Portland Railway, Light q
Power Co. for instance, won't send
men up on rotten poles any more
and then give the widow OF the re-
sulting mangled body funeral eX-
penses, after she signs a Quit-claim
for all damages.
The contributory negligenc OF the
man hurt or killed is no longer de-
Tense in Oregon under this law, but
the amount of damages may be re-
duced by the jury If this be shown
Likewise the injured can recover
II the jury decides that your eye was
worth 10000 you will get $4,000.
and no Judge can non-suit your case
IL is up TO the jury
A lot of trust lawyers. OF course.
are now trying 10 pick hole in the
D." anu 'iti' may ot SUNNI lev ~
prcme court cases. but in Oregon
legal red tape doesn't bother much
because the people elect their judge.
recall their public officials. and make
broader laws every time some trust
heckler induces a begowned Judge 10
throw OUT a measure or SO
II looks very much as though the
worker vas going TO get a square
deal in Oregon from now on
HOTEl. GRISWOLD CAFE.
Special Table bHptr Dinner New
7 Years Eve. 4. No tg l. % on So No
4 la Cgrte Service Reserve your
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