Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-10
PUBLIC SERVICE
co. ACCEPTS NEW
LIABILITY LAW
Adopts Statutes Provisions for
Compensation of Injured
Employees.
OTHER FEATURES OF
WELFARE PLAN STAND
Sick Benefit. Insurance and
Pension Provisions Are
Not Affected.

The Public Service Corporation to-
day announced its acceptance In full
of the employers liability law, de-
nounced by manufacturers on all sides.
which goes into effect July 4. Already
the corporation has made provision for
its employees in case of accidents by
installing it's welfare plan. by which
they had settled their cases with the.
company since last January.
This action of the Public Service fs
important in view of the drastic meas
ures included in the law because of
the opposition by manufacturers, and
last, but not least, because of the
large number of persons on its pay
roll. 1t was announced that the pro-
n lsions of the new law will supersede
the compensation clause of the welfare
plan in cases of accidents to employ
ees. The sick benefit insurance" or PEN
sion features will be in no way af-
fected by the employers liability law.
Public Service has given the en-
ployers' liability and workmen's COM
President Thomas N. McCarter, today,
s'and although we feel that its ac-
ceptance will cost the companies a
large sum of money. we have nevertne-
less decided to accept it, in keeping
with our policy of doing everything
that we reasonably can for the welfare
of our employees"
Second Vfce-President John j. Bur
leigh, as chairman of the welfare COM
mittee, has been delegated by the
president TO attend to the preliminaries
of making the act operative so far as
Public Servi Is concerned. Mr.. Bur
leigh will issue a bulletin to the en-
ployees and arrange for the meetings
above referred to.
Public Service did not oppose the
passage of the employers liability act ;"
said Mr.. .Burleigh, "and now that 1t Is
a law the companies are willing to ac-
cept its provisions. 1t will mean cost
of thousand of dollars to us, for under
the terms of the compensation clauses
employees who accept it's terms will
receive fixed sums which they might
otherwise not be entitled to for one
reason or another And under the law
the men will get all of the money
awarded them. They will not have to
pay any portion of it for fees or court
expenses. All will go to the injured,
ar to the dependents in case of fatali-
ties.
Not Compulsory on employees.
"rhe law is not compulsory, it is
specifically elective. and the employees
will be left perfectly free to reject us
provisions if they so desire. Those VINO
do NOT accept will not be debarred from
the benefits of the companys we1are
Non. The compensation clauses OF the
act ara favorable to the employees.
and the company was promI1ed TO ac-
cent the law in consonance with lts
noii,v of doing that which 1t believes
win conduce to the retention OF SET
of satisfied, permanent employees In all
departments ,.,..
AZ the decision applies to the Pubic
Service Railway Company, Pubic
Service Gas Company and .Puollc SerV-
ice Electric Company, as well as tiie
main corporation itself, something ike
10000 employees are more OF less ihse
ested. there being approximately tnat
number of names on PUBIC service
pay-roils throughout the state Inc
elective feature of the act Will be eN-
plsined to the men and opportunities
TO study the laws provisions will be
afforded them.
Copies of the law have been sent to
every car-house, power-station. gas
works, shop, office or other place wnere
Public Service men are employed, so
that the employees may famlllarlze
themselves with its terms. In addition
IN this. meetings will be held at which
the workings of the statute will be ex-
planned, so that every man may know
what the new law is designed to ac-
complish. Efforts will be made to have
this information pretty thoroughly dis
seminated before July 4, when the act
becomes operative.