The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-02-25

PC wen, anu JeL ulduy OIL LIleII1,
great many in fact, are paid much
less.
tuberculosis experts have found
that living wage is as necessary in
combating the ravages of the great
white plague as any other factor.
Now comes Father John Ryan of
the st. Paul Seminary, and author of
1.-THE Living Wage" with a bill in
the state legislature making it unlaw-
full to hire any female at a wage of
less than $500 per week. He hopes
to be able to show that the fixing
of minimum wage by law is as
necessary to the conservation of the
health and morals of the woman
wage carriers as the limiting of the
hours of labor
Employers Liability Laws.
Employers liability legislation is
considered by far the most important
on economic subjects now before the
legislature. There are three compre-
hensive bills pending. The first is
the majority report Of the Employees
Compensation commission, signed by
H. V. Mercer and w. E. McEwen,
providing for a scheme of compulsory
compensation in lien of all existing
remedies at law, and placing the en-
tire cost thereof upon industry.
The second is the minority report
of the commission, signed by George
M. Gillette, and providing for an
elective compensation with the en-
ployees contributing 20 per cent of
the cost therefore.
The third bill was drawn by former
Justice of the Supreme Court, Thos.
D. OBrien, which maintains the prin-
ciples of existing laws. except that
the doctrine of assumption of risk
and the fellow servant are abrogated
In non-negligence cases, or where
accidents occur through the hazard
of the industry the employe may
claim compensation in almost the
same manner as is provided for in
the commissions bill In another let
ter the details of the three bills will
be fully discussed. In this letter we
will content ourselves with discussing
the two salient features of the Gill
lette bill or code as it is properly
called. Mr.. Gillette lays particular
stress upon the election CD feature
of his bill, which requires that at
the time of employment the employer
and employe may choose should
the employe become injured whether
he will claim compensation under the
employers liability law, based upon
| agents, or under the compensation
code, based upon the risk of the in
dustry.
A close study Of this proposition
will show that this form of election
| will be wholly one sided. and solely
at the "employers election he hav-
! ing the right to give employment
The result will be that employers
will elect to come under that law
| which offers the best inducements as
! to cost In hazardous industries,
| where accidents are frequent, employ
! ers will elect the mpensation law.
: In industries where the hazard is not
so great and accidents are less fire.
quent or are of minor character,
employers will elect to come under
the employers liability law, with the
! negligence of the employer as the
basis for recovery. The purpose of
: Mr.. Gillette on this phase. of the
question is SO apparent that it is not
believed the legislature will give it
serious consideration. :.% !sasS* y
MFR. Gillett's Second Proposition.
Mr.. Gillette's second proposition of
employees contribution will be gen
| EARLY opposed by labor. Arguments
by the thousands can be advanced
against it, and more particularly; when
the premiums are to be paid to an
| insurance company organized for
profit, and with whose cold blooded
claim agents the injured laborer will
be obliged to settle.
The contribution made by the en-
| ployer will be charged by him to the
cost of production, and the consumer
the laborer-pays for it in the end.
The contribution made by the en-
ployee must be deducted from his
| wages, and only lie and his family
will make the payments. The man
f"who suffers the pain from an in
jury, the worry and suspense. the
loss of one half of his earnings for
| a period of five years, and all after
that time has made his full contribu-
ton; Industry should bear the finan-
cial burden.
A Relevant Example, .,,...
A fellow inmate in St. Joseph's
| hospital, railroad conductor, is hop
p'Aie dpouI vi c1uLCneS OH one leS
instead of two. He jumped from. a,
moving train and slipped on a depot
| platform. The claim agent for the
! railroad company offered to settle for
. 5000. A personal injury attorney
thought that he could sue for 1000,
| and would want 80 per cent as, his
| contingent fee. If the full amount
was by good luck secured. the. in.
jured conductor would get $4,000, af- =
i "a, 90