The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-13
Gov. Foss Strong
 For W0rkmen's
 Compensation Law
Tells of Enactment on Broad Lines in Massachusetts and Hopes Question Will be Brought to Uniform Level All Over the United States
Special from Unite1 Press

Spring Lake, N J., Sept. 13-Goyer- nor Foss, of Massachusetts, in his ad- dress on the workingmen's compensa- tion law before the House of Cover nors, today, said:
 tThere is a vague theory that where the individual power of different States proves insufficient the Federal gov aernment comes in. In such matters as workingmen's compensation, Fed eral power, it was thought, might be invoked to cover the entire country and afford uniform laws If, how ever, there is anything hostile to self government and the sovereignty of the State, it is the unnecessary intrusion of Federal control.
 sentially a business subject and ought to be brought to a uniform level all over the United States. As yet there is very little uniformity. Under the law of workingmen's compensation, now beginning to appear in this coun- try, an empboye is entitled to a com pensation at once and automatically as soon as his injuy occurs He need not sue nor compete with his employ CT in securing testimony and he need not divide with the -chas ing lawyer nor wait for years to get his rightful due.
 "Germany and England have insti- tuted systems and the admitted fact that we are behind the times ought to incite us to work harder to estab- fish the fundamental right of labor throughout the States. We have made a start already The Federal government has already applied the principle to workmen in it's employ in the Philippine Islands, in govern ment arsenals, navy yards, fortifica-e tions and other hazardous employ ments in the Canal Zone.
 "In my administration a working mems compensation law has been passed in Massachusetts, the first to be enacted on broad lines in any State. It will go into full effect in July, 1912, giving employers a chance to study the provisions and meet them. The law now provides that it shall not be a necessary agreement with an eEnploye that he was negli- ployment. This is a drastic change but I believe it absolutely necessary as a starting point
 .eThe act sets forth in detail the amount which injured worlxrnen may claim. In case of death, his depend ents receive a maximum of three thousand dollars. He receives the same maximum for total incapacita- tion Claims for compensation are
 
 Many employers hire foreign work men for the reason that if they are killed their nonresident families can not readily obtain compensation. Un- der our supreme court ruling it makes no difference where the family of the workman may live It is notorious that at present a large part of the money spent in attempting settle ments does not reach the injured men. When the New York committee com- it was learned that employers could at a cost no greater than many of them are now incurrine for insur- ance
 .'If, in any quarter. of the country legal authority shall construe these as unconstitutional then it is time to such as to modern needs and human justice.
 You cannot take away any mans without due process of law. The property of corporation taken and given to the workingman must be taken under adequate legal process. The process in the case of compensa- tion is similar to the broad principle of police power under which certain fines are imposed without recourse to jury trial
 Adequate compensation laws are not only needed fin themselves, but their existence will immediately act to reduce the total number of indus trial accidents"