The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-14
FOSS MAKES PLEA
FOR WORKING MAN
PROGRESSIVE YOUNG GOVERNOR
OF MAssACHussET'rs DE-
LINERS SPEECH.
FAVORS COMPENSATION
DECLARES 1T IS A BUSINESS SUB
JECT AND SHOULD DE BROUGHT
TO UNIFORM
LEVEL.
FAVORS COMPENSATION

SPRING LAKE, y. j, Sept. Ia
Eugene Foss, the progressive young
Governor Of Massa ch usetts. aided by
Governor Hay. Of Montana, to-day
made Il strong appeal before the Con
terence Of Governors in session here
for uniform workmen compensa-
tiou Ian and an employers liability
act. Governors HaaIey, OF Missour
Stubs, of Kansas, Harmon. OF Ohio.
and Wilson, OF New Jersey. also took
an active part in the discussion, and
asserted that no private enterprise or
institution couId now cope Nlta q sit
uallon OF such magnitude and uniVex-
sal Importance.
1t MAS the consensus of the confer
euce at the close oil the session that
the State, or perhaps the nation, must
ultimately stand between the employ
CT ana employe and administer their
mutual interests. The laws most ia
Vored by the delegates present are
such as have already been enacted in
+ massachusetts, and Washington. and
which will soon become effective.
i Governor Foss said IN part:
There IS a vague theory that when
the individual power of different
States proves insufficient the Federal
government comes in. In such matters
as workingmen s compensation 1t was
thought Federal power might be in
voked TO cover the entire country and
afford uniform laws. II, however.
there is anything hostile to self-goT-
eminent and the sovereignty OF the
State. 1t is unnecessary intrusion Of
/ Federal control.
4 Business subject.
"Workingmen's compensation is es-
Isentially a business subject. and ought
TO be brought To a uniform level all
over the United States. AS Yet there
is a very little uniformity, Under the
law Of workingmen' compensa ton,
now beginning To appear In this coun-
try, an eInpioye Is entitled to COM
pensation al once and automatically
as soon as his injury occurs. He need
not sue nor compete with his employ
ser tn securing testimony. and he need
! rfaot divide with rte ambulance srrasS
ing lawyer. nor wait for years to get
hts rights established.
Germany and England have insti-
tuted such systems, and the admitted
fact that We are behind the times
I ought TO incite US 10 work harder to
esta blish the fundamental right Of la
( Dor throughout the States. We have
made a start already. The Federal
government has already applied the
principle to workmen in its employ
in the Philippine Islands IN govern
Inent arsenals, navy yards, fortifica-
tons and other hazardous employ
ments and in the cauaI zone.
First on Broad Lines.
In my administration a working
mems compensation bill has been
passed in Massachusetts, the first to
be enacted on broad lines in any
State. 1t will go into fun effect July.
1912, giving employers a chance 10
study the provisions and meet them.
Our new law provides that 1t shall
not be a defense for the employer
that he was negligent or assumed the
risk as a condition of his employ
ment. This is a drastic change. but
I believe II absolutely necessary as a
starting point.
+ +sThe act sets forth fr1 detail the
amount which injured workmen may
claim. In case Of death his depend
ents receive maximum Of $4,000.
He receives the same maximum for
total incap acitation. Claims for com
pensation are filed with an industrial
accident hoard. and if approved be-
come enforceable,
MANY employers hire foreign work
men for the reason that If they are
killed their nonresident families can
not readily obtain compensation. Tn.
der our Supreme Court rulings II
makes no difference where the family
of the workmen may live"
Thirty governors are now here II
take part In the discussions and every
body Is having good time.
Governor Plaisted. Of Maine. who
was much discounted over the out
come, of the election in his State for
the repeal Of the prohibition law. lef,
in n hurry for home tonight. He
said he was not yet satisfied the cleo
ton had been lost to the drys.-