The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-17

ACCIDENTS are due to the assumed risks
Of the trades, and from working
mans point of view, it is vastly more
accidents are due to the assumed risks
doctrine out the way. Sometimes the
assumed risks or trade hazards include
as high as 70 per cent of the industrial
accidents in a given line of occupa-
ton.
AS for contributory negligence, Mr.
Fbher showed that a modification OF
this doctrine is needed SO that slight
degree Of contributory negligence will
not act as an absolute bar to the re-
covery of damages.
Mayor Fisher then went on with a
brilliant argument in favor of Work
mems Compensation as opposed te
Employers Liability. showing its
working in every civilized country
the preponderance Of experience be-
ing absolutely against Employers Liza
bility as compared with the other
method of relief.
He traced the wastefulness of the
present system by which only 80 per
cent of the amount of liability insur-
ance paid by manufacturers finally
reaches the injured employes-this
owing to the intervention Of expensive
insurance companies and expensive
litigation.
"And I will say frank1y,9 declared
Mr.. Fisher, "that in my measure there
is a provision which will meet with the
bitterest opposition of the insurance
lobby-if there is an insurance lobby
Prof. Fisher, quoted statistics show
ing that under private insurance, two
thirds Of the premiums go to pay the
administrative costs, the presidents,
first presidents, second vice pres
idents, thirty second vice presidents,
high salaried agents, and what-not.
Under state insurance, the administra-
tive cost is 10 per cent. Under pri-
vate insurance, the policy holder gets
back one third of what he has paid;
under state insurance he gets back
nine-tenths.
"And I certainly am in favor of the
arrangements by which nine-tenths OF
the sums paid for liability insurance
shall go to the injured workmen,"
said Prof. Fisher.
Someone in the audience questioned
him on this matter and Prof. Fisher
took up the insurance question with a
vim.
: eff / had my way he declared,
s'the state would operate every kind
of insurance-not only liability but
every other kind, The present system
of insurance is cumbersome and cost
Nv. The very best insurance policy is
the very simplest. The companies
now are handing out all sorts of EN-
dowment' policies and a thousand
and-one devices for the purpose of
microscopic scrutiny. to demonstrate
that they are more desirable than the
policies put out by some other COM
pany."
Mr.. Fisher then took up the idea
of the Manufacturers association that
the injured employee should contri-
butte to the insurance necessary un-
der Workmen's Compensation. He de-
clared himself opposed to this idea
and showed that out of 20 political
entities which Ihave adopted the Work
mems Compensation idea, % do not
require any payments whatever from
the workingmen.
Mr.. Fisher furthermore showed that
practically all Of the nations of the
civilized world, even including Rus
STA. have adopted the Workmen's
Compensation idea. The exceptions
are Portugal and the Balkan States,
so that we are left in this proud COM
pany.
Following Mr.. Fisher, Chairman JUDI
son asked Charles Donahue If the men
he represents are willing to accept the
scheme by which all employers who
accept the Compensation act are per-
mitted to retain the common law bar
riers, while employers who do not ac-
cept it are denied the common law
barriers.
After requiring Mr.. Judson to repeat
this question three times, Mr.. Dona-
hue finally said that he was incltn-
ed to think that it might be all right;
C. e. Terry spoke for the railroad
engineers. firemen and telegraphers.
He said he is willing to accept the
stated by Mr.. Judson.
Peter A'Hhearn made a telling speech
for the railroad brakemen. J.