The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-01-09
SAYS IT'S CHEAP TO KILL MEN.
John Wi'chc,l Speaks on compensation
for WOrl<ingnien.

NEW ROCHELLE. n. Y. Jan. S.-John
Mitchell. the labor leader. spoke TO 1000
/ people in the Peoples Forum this after
noon on Accidents to Workngmen and
Compensation for Losses Caused by
Them Mr.. Mitchell said
, IF we were TO do away with one-thrd
of the Judges and pay the money saved
to injured workmen instead of retaining
the present system of legal proceedings
To collect damages for injuries received
in the various industries of the United
states we would come nearer to arriving
AT some equitable means of compen-
sstion"
Mr. Mitchell said that as the result of
y ibllc discussion on this subject in recent
years the Federal and some State govern
inehts have appointed commissions TO
devise means of automatically indemnify
ing workmen when they are injured in the
pursuit Of their trade. He said that in
this country more than hundred work
men are killed every day. The number
OF Killed and MANNED il so. 900 annually
and the annual number of accidents of
all kinds TO workmen is 2,OOO,OOO.
1T is "A strange commentary on our
boasted civilization" he said that
nearly three times as many workmen are
killed in the United States i'm year as
are killed in any country in Europe. and
most of these casualties are preventable
II IL cheaper to kill and MAIN workmen
in America than to protect them.
IF people could understand this they
would arise and insist thatwithout regard
TO the cost every means possible should
be taken To protect the lives and health
OF workmen. II il cost more to kill than
Ia protect themthey would not be killed.
The number Of accidents in America is
due TO inadequate laws and regulations.
1T is imperative that the mining and
factory laws of all States be greatly
extended and enforced with the utmost
vigor. All machines should be equipped
with safety devices. The States should
have museums of safety devices. Every
effort should be made to educate people
along these lines and the force of factory
inspectors should be increased II would
mean considerable expenditure of
money, but such great saving in human
life and accidents as to greatly outweigh
the monetary consideration. IL work
man shou Id be injured or be killed while
AT work he or his heirs should receive
directly from that industry suitable
compensation whether the accident was
due 20 his negligence or not"
MIR. Mitchell said that. except in the
state of New York. the country is still
under the old common law as regards
compensation for accidents Under the
present law workma is practically
helpless. In only eleven cases out of
hundred has he been known To succeed
in collecting damages His suits, the
speaker said have been lost on the
ground Of contributory negligence or on
the ground that he assumes the risk when
he accepts the job
Uniform legislation in all States is
absolutely necessary TO meet the eXi
gencies OF the situation. The unions
have accomplished much. especially for
the protection Of wage earning women.
But they cannot do it all; they must have
the help Of other men"
Mr. Mitchell said that he favored the
law of England which requires the EN-
ployer Of every workman injured in hS
service to pay Immediately The injured
man one-half of his rate Of wages until
he is able TO work again. and in the case
of death 10 pay the heirs three years
salary. He said that he would welcome
such IA law in every State of the Union
Under our present system, MIR
Mitchell said. -even when recovery Is
made the workman has to await the slow
process Of justice, which sometimes
lengrhens into years before his case is
decided. And in most cases he loses,
We should hesitate no longer in abandon
ing the present system. which has been
for the production of misery and waste"