The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-08-19

., During the next fifteen months two
committees will attempt to draft bills
for presentation to the legislature
bearing on the question of working
mems compensation. One Of these
committees consists Of five members
of the senate and is headed by Hon.
A. F. Rockne of Goodhue county.
The other committee is created by the
Minnesota State Bar association, witt
Mr.. H. V. Mercer of Minneapolis as
its chairman.
These two cimnittees consist of
ten members, all of whom are law
yers We take it that it is pretty
generally agreed that the practical
side of the question of workingmen's
compensation has been solved, and
that only the legal phases Of the pro-
blem remain to be worked out, hence
the two committees consisting wholly
Of reputable attorneys. = :
Committees Thoroughly Competent.
Knowing most Of the members Of
both committees as we do, we are of
the opinion that fairly decent bill
will be presented to the next legisla-
ture for passage. Mr.. Mercer, chair
man Of the Bar association commit
tee Is probably the best informed
lawyer in the United States on work
1ngmen's compensation and industrial
insurance: More than this; he pos
esses a heart as we'll as brains, and
So far, as the, workingmen are con-
cerned, they need have no fears that
their interests will not be well
s8uarded.
': Thea committees< will find ere they
study the: Question very deeply, as
Mr.. Mercer has already discovered,
that there is vastly more to the proc
blem than It's legal aspect. The last
legislature, in it's consideration of
measures on this subject, did not be-
gin to seriously consider the legal DIFF
f1cult1es In the way of the passage Of
Work1ngmen's compensation act.
1t Is true that strong objections
were made against the passage of anv
and all bills bearing on the subject
upon constitutional grounds, but
these came from employers associa-
tlons, and were mere subterfuges to
aid In killing the bills.
During all of the hearings the prin-
c1pal =. argument was made by
employers against pending bills be-
cause of the fear that their passage
would add materially to the burden.
now borne by the industries of this
state as the result of present en-
ployers liability laws.
Infirmity With Former Bills.
Labor made its opposition on the
grounds that the bills did: not begin
to adequately and justly compensate
Injured employees. Several labor or
ganization supported the bill sub
mitted by the majority members of
the commission, not that they were
satisfied with the. compensation Of
fered,. but they. saw in 1t the .estab-
lishment of the correct principle, and
tn " were willing to trust: to succeed
ng legislatures, to increase the COM
pensation. But. labor. was = divided,
and, division meant defeat: [. +. =.
The employers liability companies
probably presented the ~bitterest op-
position to any change In existing
laws. Al the four principle objec-
.ttons to g. PARCELS post In America
are are the four: big express companies,
50 the really big objection to Work
ingmen's Compensation. is an. employ
er's liability. company, ). 80 ~. !
Insurance Companies Disregarded.
I The men who control the destinies
Of the great insurance companies
Know g. thing or two. They have
had experience In foreign countries
and they have found that working
mems compensation spells death to
their business. We do not blame
them for attempting to save them