The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-11-04
PROGRESS OF 1871
IN HELPING LABOR
Remarkable Grist of Protect
i've Measures in Forty
States.
palladium Specially

of the widespread movement for re-
form in dealing with industrial inju-
Ties, ten states have this year passed
laws providing accident compensation
for injured employees, and six states,
for the first time In America. now re-
quire the reporting Of several well-de-
fined occupational diseases and indus
trial pOisonings says the Review Of
Labor Legislature Of 1911. just issued
from it's New Yorw headquarters by
the American Association for Labor
Legislation.
This interesting and convenient vol
ume OF 100 pages summarizes the ac-
tivities of the 40 legislatures which
have passed laws during the present
year for the promotion of the health.
comfort and safety of the millions who
toll in factory. workshop and mine.
Workmen'7 Compensation.
A convenient table prepared by Hon.
p. Tecumsch sherman, Of New York,
and published in this Review gives at
a glance all the main provisions or tn"
ten new compensation laws. 1t shows
that the scheme Of elective cOmpensa-
tion is adopted in California. Illinois.
Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey
and Wisconsin: compulsory compensa-
tion, modified by the dule Of compara-
tive negligence, in Nevada; an elective
insurance system in Massachusett
and Ohio: and in Washington state
Insurance system compulsory as to
certain enumerated emplOyments and
elective as to all others. The employer
bears the cost in all states except
Ohio where the employe contributes 10
per cent of the insurance fund. In half
of the states the laws apply to speci-
fled list of dangerous emplOyments.
but in California. Massachusetts, New
Jersey, Ohio (where five or more are
employed) and Wisconsin Except cas-
uaD all employments are covered. The
complete story of these laws as pub
lished in the Labor Legislation Re-
view, ia written by the we'll known au-
thority. Prof. Ernet Freund of the Uni
.versity OF Chicago
New commissioners to study the
subject Of compensation for accidents.
are created this year in nine states,
making a total Of twenty-one commits
sions on this job during the last three
years. Many states are changing their
existing liability laws by taking away
the defences of the employer, and max
ing recovery of damages more easy for
the workman. In Wisconsin no release
signed by an injured emplOye within
seventy-tWO hours after suffering an
accident can be used against him
when seeking damages. More reports
OF accidents are required in thirteen
states.
Diseases Of Occupation.
1.-THE recent campaign of the Asso-
Iciation for Labor Legislature to pro-
tmote the study and prevention Of dis
leases due to occupation. has already
bourne fruit. Six states California,
Connecticut. Wisconsin. Illinois. Michi-
gan and New York;, for the first time
report cases of industrial diseases.
These diseases include lead poisoning
(which endangers the lives of work
lmen in 1873 trades the loathsome
r'phossy jaw" which disagures those
who work with poisonous phosphorus
in our match factories: Sthe hatters'
"shakes" due to mercurial poisoning !;
1.-THE caisson workers. bends: an.
Ithrax: and poisoning from arsenic" "
Occupational diseases will be investi
jKated in Ohio and the evils Of poor
factory lighting. in Massachusetts
Special protection for employees engag
ed in peculiar dangerous processes, in
Ivolving the use of poisonous lead is
provided for in Illinois.
Accident Prevention.
The terrible loss Of human life
Through factory fires has led many
Sstates to provide better protection
Iagainst fire. Standards Of safety are
raised in many states and Pennsylva
mia now provides for fire drills in al
industrial establishments where WON
zen or girls are employed. The condi
tions under which manufacturing ir
lofts Is carried on is now under inves
tigation in New York.
The Review notes marked tenden
'cy to strengthen the laws relating tC
the protection Of workingmen from
dangerous machinery in factories anC
workshops. as we'll as in mines. by al
lowing the inspectors to close dowr
any establishment or to prohibit the
use of any particular machine which
lis dangerous to employees.
Building Construction.
a., Employees in building trades viii
watch with great interest the results
Of the laws Of Nebraska. Indiana ant
Oregon, for the prevention Of acci
dents in building construction. The
latter is especially important since il
is coupled with the liability law which
takes away the chief defenCes of the
employer in case Of suit for damages
Workingmen who are employed il
underground rooms or manholes ant
on street cars, or who operate corr
husking or shredding machines. alst
receive additional legal protection.
New Railroad Laws.
The Review mentions fifteen state!
which enacted laws for the protection
Of railroad employees against accident
These laws relate to the authority ant
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