Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-01-05

me0Ev-InS mines are Be<4lu9U Will LIS
blood of their Victims; every sky
scraper is cemented with the blood and
Drawn of its builders; every large en-
terprise is baptized in the blood OF its
workmen.
docs it not appeal to you that there
is an underlying cause. other than
negligence, that is responsible for the
casualty record? We have been so
busy making money that we have for
gotten the real man who made it. for
gotten his family. neglected ordinary
rules for national welfare and safety,
until we are overwhelmed with the
Eenormity Of our industrial offences,
and we hope shamed into an effort to-
wards forcing restitution. I say fore
ing for it never win be made other
wise.
1--WE ask that every human sacrifice
be fully compensated without having
to wait for the delays and uncertain
ties of the courts; we want the injured
not to have to suffer mental pain with
his hysical ills for fear of the future
TO himself and his family; we de-
demand medical, surgical and hospital
attention; we want certainty Of respon-
sibility fixed for the employer, with
certainty Of compensation fixed for the
employee. We want the defenses of
negligence, fellow servant and assump-
ton Of risk eliminated; we want all
the common law defenses now open
to the employer removed, and the pro-
essional risk to rest upon the profess
sion, not upon the man. That is, |
believe, the only way we can enforce
compensation"
Voluntary Indemnity.
Mr.. Fred C. Schwedtman, represent
ing the National Association of Manu-
acturers, gave lecture. illustrated
oy charts, on voluntary Indemnity
or Injured Workme.n" Mr.. Schwedt-
nan has spent several years studying
the subject of Employers Liability
and recently spent some months in
Europe investigating conditions and
methods there. Most of the charts he
used were based on European official
statistical reports. (Mr Schwedtman
was of opinion that the number of in
dsutrial casualties in America cannot
be estimated for lack of proper
statistics.)
OF evenAgreater importance were the
measures to prevent accidents, and
some very interesting figures were
shown, showing that the agricultural
laborer must be included in any
scheme for accident compensation.
falls from ladders accounting for
many accidents. OF as great import
ance as preventive measures was the
preventive spirit, which took many
years to educate.
Workmen's Compensation legislation.
Thomas /. Parkinson Of New York,
Counsel for the Legislation Drafting
Association, said:
"For several years there has been a
general tendency throughout the coun-
try to enact laws increasing employ
ers' liability for the damages sustained
by employees in Industrial accidents.
These laws are founded on a recogni-
ton Of the injustice of the judge-made
rules of the common law which in
practice put upon the injured work
men or those dependent on his wages
the whole hardship incident to his in
jury.
"The injustice to the individual as
well as the possible necessity. for pub
lie care of incapacitated employees or
their impoverished dependents, and
the probable public loss involved in
the tendency toward lower citizenship
of dependent minor children deprived
Of the advantages of education and
home life, have caused those interest
ed in securing more equitable distri-
button of the burden Of industrial acct
dents to turn to workmen's compensa-
ton acts. ~
Briefly stated. the purposes Of these
acts are ~ To secure to employees
compensation in all cases Of injury
through accidents, which arise from
risks inherent in the particular en-
ployment. (2) To make the compen-
sation either fixed by law or readily
determinable without resort to. COM
mon law rules of damages or jury
trials. (S) TO do away with the waste
Of time and money and the hostility
between employer and employee in
legislation over the fact and the .mea-
cure Of the employers liability. \.
1.-THE principal impediments to the
enactment Of compensation laws in
this country are the constitutional OBJ
jections that they ~ deprive the en-