The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-15
EMPLOYERS FAVOR
GERMAN SYSTEM
H. B. joy Discusses Proposed Liza.
bility Law; Will at First Apply
Only To Accidents.

| henTy II. JOY, president OF the PACK
ard Motor Car Co, in an address be-
fore meml RS of the Board of Com
merce In the assembly room OF the
board, Wednesday afternoon. explain.
ed the attitude OF the National Associ.
alton OF Manufacturers toward the Ii
ability OF employers in connection
with accidents to employees. The ques-
ton was recently considered In a
meeting OF the executive committee OF
the association and an advisory board
o. leading manufacturers.
Mr.. Joy attended the conference
and his address was a review OF the
plans and methods adopted by the
executive committee. Mr.. Joy pointed
out that the association had determin-
ed 10 support an employers liability
law which would be fair and adequate
to employees in all branches OF trade
He said in part:
II think that there Is no one In
business as an employer but realizes
the unfairness OF the present methods
OF Industrial insurance known as EN-
/ ployers' liability but accurate infor.
nation conditions has been lacking
AT the annual convention of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers in
| New York last May our committee
had proceeded sufficiently far TO crys-
talize into some resolutions the fol-
! lowing:
The present employers liability
laws are unsatisfactory, wastefu of
! life and money, slow in operation and
| antagonistlc to harmonious relations
between employers and wage workers
An equitable, mutual, contributory, in
demnity system, automatically provid-
ing indemnity for victims OF industrial
| ACCIDENTS, and their dependents, is re.
CURED to reduce waste, litigation and
friction, and To meet other require.
n.ents o. an enlightened industrial ma.
ton.
I'VE sent abroad James Il. Emery
and his delving into the English rec
ords, and Mr. Sweetman's into the
German statistics, have produced an
array of facts which totally changed
the minds CT the other members OF
the committee. We now feel that the
only stand that the National Manufac-
turers association can take is one for
accident insurance alone, leaving out
OF consideration all sickness, invalid.
ity and old age pensions. BY doing
that and retaining some OF the ideas
OF the English system and the Ger
man system, we can get here in Mich
igan, and in the other states very
practicable. simple basts. eliminating
the litigation. delay and attendant suf
fering to form of the application OF
compensation for injury which will
produce an untold amount of good
And while Il is gong TO be far
more expensive for the employers, as
II shows on their records, in the end
1t Will be a great benefit, both to the
employers and to the employees. En-.
ployers OF Germany universally said,
as the commissioners met them and
discussed the matter with them, that
not one of them would be willing 10
go back TO the conditions that pre-
vailed before, and they feel that the
benefits 10 Germany, as a nation, are
great. and the efficiency OF her people
as producers is greatly improved
1T is the judgment of our commit
tee that substantially similar cond-
lions can be produced in the United
States; and that if we try TO go as
far as they have in Germany in IS
years in one year, we will totally fail,
undertake the accident situation at
the present time. but on the right
principle, in the course of time there
Will grow up the rest of the German
system, or it's main ideas.
1T is clear that any action on the
part OF the state TO provide for in
demnity or compensation as the result
Of injury received Is equivalent to an
increase In the rate OF wages. 1t is
going to cost the employer more. The
employe is going TO get more. That
is going to be an additional cost upon
the people. The cost of caring for an
injured man is going to be spread
over society at large, as it very prop
erly should be.
Compensation must be assured or
it becomes an empty right and a use
less remedy. If 1t is dependent upon
the solvency OF the employer, the po-
sition of the employee of the small
employer is not improved and the
burden of the large employer is in
creased. Insurance alone insures sol
vency and guarantees to the workman
and lessons the burden to the en-
ployer. Provision should therefore be
made whereby every employer of la
Dor shall satisfy the proper state au-
thurities that the payment OF the pre-.
scribed compensation Is assured to his
employees through one Of several meth
dds The employer. subject to the as
sumption of that responsibility. should
be given the broadcast discretion.
Believing in the contributory prin-
ciple of compensation, we advocate a
maximum of sc 2-3 per cent of the
average weekly wage, but not more
thar 1888 per week, nor for more
than 800 weeks for disability or death.
The compensation for permanent dis
ability, however, should increase in
propurto nto the increased earning
power OF the injured, contribution to
be paid on the basis of 70 per cent by
the employer, and % per cent by the
employee, the state to contribute the
cost OF administration"
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