The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-06-23
woRKMENs COMPENSATION.
Congressional Commission Reopen Hear
ings in It's Investigation of This
Important Subject.
Constitutionality of Proposed Enact.
ment Consumes Greater Part of
Opening Session.

Washington, June 1.-THE congress
sional commission appointed to investi
gate the subject of workmen's compen-
sation has reopened its hearings. At the
last session previous to the one men
toned adjournment was taken upon the
suggestion of the commission to await
the decision of the United States su.
preme court in the Standard Oil, To
bacco trust and other cases. for the rca
son that in these cases there were points
involved which, when decensions were
handed down. might shed light upon the
enactment of the measure under consd
Grafton. The first session of the re-
opened hearings was devoted to a dis
cussion of the constitutional phases in
the enactment of a compensation law.
There were present representatives OF
the American Federation OF Labor, to-
gether with representatives of the rail
way brotherhoods and attorneys for
numerous railroads. Attorney Miles NJ
Dawson, an expert actuary, also APP
peared in advocacy of such law. There
is apparently a unanimity of opinion
among all those appearing before the
commission, relative to the needs of such
a law. There is difference, however,
as to the manner in which it shall be
applied. The discussion on the consti
tutional phase of the question which at
tracted the most attention was that by
Miles NJ. Dawson, of New York. Mr..
Dawson has made a special study of this
particular feature, having visited vari-
Gus countries where workingmen's COM
pensation laws are in actual operation.
His contention was, that the constitu-
ton gave the right of the federal gov
eminent to enact a law covering this
feature and putting it into actual opera
ton by an excise tax, and he based his
contention on the opening section of the
constitution of the United States, which
says: 1--WE, the people of the United
States, in order to form more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
Tense, promote the general welfare" etc.
He laid stress upon the fact that the
words promote the general welfare"
gave the law making power of the fed
eral government ample authority to
establish system of workingmen's COM
pensation. 1t was also stated that the
collection of this excise tax would be
direct from the employer, and he, in
turn, adding it to the cost of produc-
tion, would be distributed and eventually
paid by the consuming public This
feature apparently met the views of
those who were present and actively in
terested. Mr.. Dawsons narrative of the
operation of this law in Germany, which
he stated in his opinion and that of
those who have made a thorough in
vestigation, was the very best plan eX
tant, was exceedingly interesting. Under
the operation of the laws in Germany,
poverty has been almost wiped out of
existence and employers and employees
are in accord with the general plan in
force. True, some minor details need
alteration, but as a general proposition
it has worked very successfully. In an
interview with MI. Dawson after the
earring closed. he stated that the com
Iensation law OF Germany had not had
the effect Of retarding the growth and
efficiency Of the labor organizations of
that country; on the other hand, the
organizations of labor had made their
most prodigious growth since the law
had been put in general operation.
Mr.. Dawson later appeared before the
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor and delivered a master
full exposition of workmen's compen-
sation law. The council was very much
impressed with his intimate knowledge
and deeply interested in the facts which
he had gathered from all sections of the
world. AS a result of Mr.. Dawson's APP
pesrance before the council, a committee
was selected from members of the execu-
tive council to make a thorough investi-
cation of the scheme outlined by Mr..
Dawson.