Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-14
TO INSURE HELP
International Harvester Com
pany Adopts Plan for Ac-
cident Liability.
AFFECTS $4,000 WORKERS
Modelled After German Law and Ig-
nores Cause-Wfll Cost $780,
600 Per Year.

chicago, April I9--ln ne lnIcrnatrOn-
al Harvester company has decided to
insure all the employees in its indus
trial plants against accidents, thereby
setting a precedent to all corporations
in this country. The practical at
tempt at dealing with the problem of
employers liability and workingmen' s
CONNIE 7sation for industrial accidents
win go into effect May /, after tbs
officers OF the company and several
exuerts have devoted about eight
month, of study to the subject The
innovation will cost the company at
least $4,000 annually.
VIII Affect 5000.
The announcement of this new de-
parture of the international Harvester
company was made last night when
the plans governing the new indus
trial insurance had been completed.
The plan will affect $4,000 employee
of the Harvester company, working in
the industrial plants of the company
throughout the country.
The liability and compensation plan
is modelled after the German law and
possesses new features evolved by
study by G. A Ranney of the general
managers Office, assisted by the at
torneys of the company.
IGNORES Cause of Accidents.
Not only Is the International HnT-
vester company the first corporation
in the country to adopt an employer
liability, but by the terms presented
In the plan OF the company this first
volunteer movement Is one of the most
generous toward the employees of any
liability schemes drawn up by stu
dents of this subject, which is attract
ing wide attention through the United
States. The radical departure of the
Harvester company's plan from all
others lies in the fact that the com
pany casts aside the defenses OF ICON
tributory negligence" assumed risk"
and the fellow servant" doctrine, and
proposes to pay, without any question
of it's legal liability, definite scale
of compensation to all it's employees
who are injured as the result of acci-
dents occurring while they are at work.
The Scale of Compensation.
The scale of compensation provided
is as follows:
In case of death there will be
paid three years average wages,
but not less than $500 nor more
than $4,000.
In case of the loss of hand or
foot, or one hand and one foot,
four years wages, but in no event
less than $4,000.
IN case of other injuries, one
fourth wages during the first 80
days OF disability; if disability
continues beyond 80 days, one-half
wages during the continuance
thereof, but not for more than two
years from the date Of the acci-
dent. Thereafter, If total disability
continues, a pension will be paid.
VIII Create BENEFIT Fund.
Provision is made so that the en-
ployes may Increase the benefits to be
paid during the first 80 days Of dis
ability to an amount equal to half
wages. This is accomplished by the
creation Of a benefit fund, to which
employees earning $50 a month or less
will contribute 8 cents a month: en-
plOyes earning more tnan sou ana less
than 500. cents a months; and en-
ployes earning more than 800, 10
cents a month.
These contributions, together with
the one.fourth wages paid by the COM
pany, will be sufficient to provide half
pay for all injured employees during
the first 80 days of disability.
Under the plan no employee loses any
legal rights which he now has. He
still retains the privilege OF bringing
a suit for damages against the conf
pany. The plan, however, does pro
vide that, if the employee shall decide
to accept the benefits, then that such
acceptance shall have the effect of re-
leasing the company from all further
liability arising out Of the accident