United labor bulletin., 1911-12-21
GOVERNOR APPOINTS
LIABILITY COMMISSION
Garman and DaIrympIe Named on
the Committee to Rep
resent Labor.

mission to report an employers liability
bill to the next session of the legisia-
ture. This action is taken under senate
bill No. $40, by Harvey &. Garman
passed by the eighteenth general as
sembly.
The Garman bill calls for the appoint
ment of a commission of five to gather
data from every state in the Union, and
to draft an employers liability bill that
will be a credit to the state and just to
the employer as we'll as to the employe.
The commission is composed of the
following well-known men: The Hon
Platte Rogers. ex-mayor of Denver and
welEknown attorney, who will be attor-
ney for the commission, and act as chair
man; State Senator Harvey E Garman,
author of the bill and well-known union
labor man, representing the state sen
ate, is secretary; the Hon John Z. Os-
good of the Victor-American Fuel COM
pany, representing the employers; Rep
resentative John F Pearson, member of
the house from Gunnison county, and
James Dalrymple. well-known miner and
chief of the state coal mine inspectors.
The commission met last Friday and
organized with the above result. The
state has appropriated $1,000 for the ex-
penses of the commission, such as print
ing, postage, etc. but this has been put
in with fourth-class bills, and may not
become available. Steps have been
taken by interested parties to furnish
this commission with the necessary
money to carry on its extensive investi-
CATION, and collecting of data The
greater part of the routine work will be
left to Senator Garman. and that the
work of the commission may proceed
without delay. Secretary 6arman has
opened headquarters for the commission
at 521 E. & C. building.
Senator Garman says his entire time
will be devoted to the work of commits
sion. He will gather statutes bearing
on this subject from every state where
they exist; he will get the opinions OF
those who have made the subject of en-
ployers' liability a study; he expects to
delve into the records of trades unions
and the American Federation of Labor
and will send for the best information
on the subject in foreign countries. He
asks that all laboring men who have
anything to suggest to the commission
make an appointment when they wish
to be heard.
Mr.. Garman is a well-known worker
in behalf of labor legislation. 1t was he
that introduced the woman's eight-hour
bill that passed the senate in the eigh-
teenth general assembly but which
failed to pass the house. This is the
Colorado State Federation of Labor.
The secretary to the commission has
already found that employers will not
fight this Law. They argue that law
that will compel all employers to pay
into a fund their just share. out of
which injured men and women and the
families of those killed may be compen-
sated. will operate to their benefit. They
will not be compelled to pay expensive
court costs in a addition to numerous
lawyers fees: and it will also protect
the small operator or manufacturer who
would be ruined by paying heavy dam
ages to an injured employe. All will pay
a small amount into a general fund. The
employe may also be forced to support
such a fund.
James Dalrymple will also look out for
the interests of labor on this commits
sion. He is a member of the United
Mine Workers of America and a practi-
cal miner. He has had wide experience
in mining and is feared by the operators
His integrity has never been questioned