Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-10-05
PEOPLE MUST BE
RESTORED TO rule
Continued from page 3

Eberhart says at this time in the face
Of another election that he faVOrs re-
apportionment. The Legislature, of
which he was part, pressed a Con-
stitutional amendment allowing reap
pOrtiOnment to be made at any time,
thus probably deferring the question
until the amendment could be adopted.
Permit me to say to northern Min
nesota here and now that the present
Constitution authorizes re-apportion.
ment at this coming session and that
in all justice to the state it should be
accorded.
Stands for Employers Liability.
There is nc hing more precious than
human life. There is no form of con.
servation more important to the state.
1t is the duty of the state to protect
| from needless sacrifice the lives of
| men and women who are obliged to
labor in our industries. Employers
| and employees understand that every
restriction in our present inspection
laws should be removed so that the
| state officials will have the authority
| under the law to order safeguards in
every place where danger to human
life turks. But when we have solved,
so far as protection to human life is
concerned, the question of accidents,
there still remain large number that
will take place because of the hazard
of the industry and which cannot be
foreseen or provided against. This
brings up the question of the basis of
| compensation for such injuries. The
law that we have belongs to an era in
our industrial life that has passed. 1t
is based on the theory of fault or neg
ligence, which might have belonged
very we'll in the primitive days of hand
tools, but which has no application un.
| der a system of industry which in.
wolves the buzz of intricate machinery,
whirling saws and keen edged knives.
Industry Must Bear the Risk.
The men who are obliged to work
under this hazard and who suffer the
pains from injuries sustained there,
1
risk. 1t is the duty of the state to
step in and by proper legal enactment
to devise a system for the injured
working man, which shall in no man.
ner SAVIOR of aims or charity. This
principle was recognized by the late
Governor Johnson, by the last legisla.
ture, by the organizations of employers
and employees and by the State Bar AS.
! ISOLATION.
A Commission is now at work with
view of proposing bill which will
have for it's purpose scheme of com
pensation for every person injured in
a Minnesota industry without the nee
essity of costly law suit and with
the question of negligence wholly elm
mated. It has received my co-opera
ton and support as a citizen and shall
continue to have that endorsement,
and support in whatever position
may be called upon to fill.
i As to the Otis Decision.
T. I cannot forego a reference to q
recent court decision which has shaker
Minnesota to it's foundation I refer
to the findings and decree handed
down last week at St. Paul by the
Master in the United States Court Of
| Appeals involving the reasonablenes<
and validity of freight and passenger
rates for Minnesota. This decision
says in effect that the legislature O.
the state has absolutely no authorit!
to say what shall be reasonable an(
fair rates for passengers and freight
It makes the State Railroad Commits
sion mere clerical body. 1t is sweep
ing in it's scope and important no
only to Minnesota but to all the state!
of the Union.
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