The Washington herald., 1911-11-07
EMPLOYERS READ
WARNING ON WALL
Big Interests Shoulder Bur-
den of Workers Insurance.
WHAT HARVEST TRUST PAYS
Congregational Commission Hears
witnesses on Rates I'm Proposed
About Fifty Labor Leaders Pres
cnt at Yesterdays Session.

The big business interests Of the coun-
try have accepted the inevitable and
voluntarily shouldered the burden of
general liability insurance, according to
G. A. Ranney, of the International Har-
vester Company, who appeared yesterday
as a representative of the National Civic
Federation before the Congressional COM
mission on employers liability and work.
mems compensation. Senator Sutherland,
Of Utah, is chairman Of the commission.
The other members are Senator Cham
berlain, of Oregon; Representatives
Brantley, of Georgia, and Moon, of Penn
syIyania: President Brown, of the New
York Central Railroad, and D. L. Cease,
editor of the Railroad Trainman.
The purpose of the present hearings is
to obtain detailed information as to rates
TO be fixed in the proposed bill to do
with the scale of compensation for in
juries sustained by employees of concerns
engaged in interstate commerce, regard
less of the factor Of contributory negli-
gence.
Worth of workmen.
The witnesses who discussed this sub
ject yesterday in addition to Mr.. Ran
ney, were DR.. Chauncey r. Burr, of
Portland, Me, an expert on the value or
workmen's services; John Garretson, rep
resentIng the international organization
of railway conductors; w. L. Lee, presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen; Arthur Williams, of the New
York Edison Company and the National
Electric Light Association of America,
and Timothy Healy, international presi-
dent of the Brotherhood Of Stationary
Firemen.
Mr. Ranney told OF the actual opera
tIons Of the system inaugurated several
years ago by the harvester trust Thls
company pays a compensation at the
rate Of half of the wages of the en-
ploye during the period Of disability.
regardless of the cause, for period OF
two years after the injury, and there
after pays a pension equivalent TO about
10 per cent of the wages earned by the
disabled employe.
Mr.. Ranney said that the year before
the system went into effect the company
paid out $4,000 on account of damages
for injuries sustained by employees, and
the litigation connected herewith. The
next year, which was just two years
ago, the company paid out $4,000 merely
for administrative expenses of the la
bility system, the total cost of which
was $125,0OO.
FOF common LAW nlBhts'
Mr.. Garretson, on behalf of 5000 rail-
way conductors. opposed that feature Of
the commissions proposed bill which
would seek to keep the employe from ex-
ercising his common law rights in the
event of injury. He thought eventually
this feature would be Incorporated in the
law. but insisted that at present there
was a great deal OF sentiment against 1t.
Mr.. Williams told the commission how
the New York Edison Company had vol
UNFAIRLY Inaugurated a liability and COM
pensation system, and how IL had worked.
This company employs 5 900 men, and last
year spent $40, 400 in taking care OF tenn
porarily and permanently incapacitated
workmen. Only six suits have been filed
against It in the last fve years. There
were two recoyeries. one of them lower
than the settlement the company offered
to make.
The commission will make it's report to
President Taft within a few months, and
it is expected that the President will
then transmit the report to Congress with
his recommendations
About fifty labor leaders, representing
branches of the various railroad unions,
were present at the hearing yesterday.