The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-04-25
new LABOR BILL
A TAFT POLICY

fecting the workfngmen OF the coun-
try, congress has before 1t today a
comprehensive bill on employers liza
bility and workmens compensation
which is recognized as one OF the most
progressive of the many achievements
OF the Taft administration. The til.
was reported by commission ap
pointed by President Taft pursuant to
a joint resolution of congress passed
oil June 25, 1910, and ii was recently
sent to congress by the president ac-
conpanied with message recon-
mending its passage. AS drafted the
measure provides an exclusive ren.
edy and compensation for Academia
injuries resulting In disabilities OF
oeath to employees of common car
riers engaged In interstate or foreigl
commerce or in the District OF CouLl
bia
! his comprehensive legislation ls
the direct outcome OF the general un
satlstactoriness OF labor legislatiC
passed by congress in recent year.
nd is illustrative of the Taft methce
bt iCttShlh6 Gal ouihitACd CNh os .
painstaking investigation followed By
carefully considered laws AS is wei
known. the first employers liabilit,
law passed In the last administrator
was declared unconstitutional by the
courts. new law to take its place
was passed under this administration
but 1t was generally understood at
the time that the comprehensive meaf
ere now before congress was to 10
low. both as to liability and compensa
ton, as soon as the necessary inves-
tigation into the subject could be
made The result is that the wort
H. lgmen of the United States. so far as
they can be reached by federal law
will soon be working under one O.
the most enlightened labor laws or
record
Provision is made in the bill, as
irafted tentatively, that every com
mon carrier, engaged In interstate o.
foreign commerce. shall pay compen
sations in the amounts specified in
The bill to any OF its employees who
sustains personal injury by accident
arising out OF and in the course OF
MS employment, and resulting in his
disability, or to his dependents in
case of death.
It Is provided in the bill that the
injured employee shall have medical
attendance. and surgical aid when
necessary, the last mentioned being
United to 5000. The monthly wages
Of an employee is deemed to be rs
tines the established days pay. ano
$50 is the minimum monthly wage
payment. 1t is also provided that ali
compensation under the act shall be
paid monthly, unless computed to {
ump sum.
Death benefits are provided for at a
% be paid to t.. widow, with an in.
,rease in the amount when there are
dependent children and in case OF ro
dependents the payment OF the burial
expenses Is required. The matter oil
personal injury compensation Is aisc
covered in a fair and equitable provi
sion OF compensation for the injured
employee.
Another feature OF the proposed act
s clear definition OF the term de
pendent" as well as OF what consti-
.utes an injury" and an employee.
Legal complications are provided for,
reports OF accidents. payments and
operations under the law to the in
,erstate commerce commission, are re-
CURED. and 1t is declared that the pro.
posed act shall take effect on July |,
1912. and cited as The Federal Com
pensation Act OF 1912"
In its Investigations Of this subject
he commission determined at the out.
set that In substance the doctrines OF
he common law originating under
comparatively simple conditions were
unjust as applied to the complex re-
lations OF master and servant The
use OF complicated machinery, steam
and electricity has had the effect OF
Increasing the deplorable entagonism
between employer and employee and
often giving few injured employees
large and frequently extravagant dam
ages. while the great majority have
been left to bear the entire burden
without any recompense whatever
At the time OF the adoption of the
common law rules OF liability indus
trial conditions were radically differ
ent from those OF today The number
of employees was smaller because
there were few big Industrial plants.
The business carried on was small in
extent, the appliances used in the
work consisted largely OF hand tools,
while the power was simple in char
acter with little danger to the EN-
ployee. Under such conditions the
rules of common law originated.
Today there Is vast difference
President Taft, In the message which
transmitted the report Of the commits
sion to congress. aptly says, in speak,
Ing Of the proposed bill: THAT 1t is
une of the great steps of progress to-
ward a satisfactory solution of an i'm.
-