The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-09-06
PUBLIC APPROVES,
New Jerseys Liability Law a
Popular Measure.
FAIR FOR CAPITAL AND LABOR
Years Trial Shows Great Saving In
litigation-Money Paid by Employ
err Goes Directly to Injured Toler.
Few Changes In Law Suggested.

Few Changes In Law Suggested.
More than 90 per cent Of the en-
ployers of industrial labor in New Jer
sey have virtually subscribed to the
provisions Of the employers liability
law. now in operation for one year
The disfavor of manufacturers, in
tense when the law was in the throes
of enactment, has been practically
eliminated after studying its opera
ton for the last twelve months.
So complete Is the surrender of the
employers Of the state that, according
to General Lewis Il. Bryant, commits
sioner of labor and head Of the bust
est department in the statehouse, there
are only two large manufacturing con,
Germs in the state not operating under
the provisions of the compensation
schedule Of the act, and Of these one
has compensation rate of its own, in
excess, in most classes of accidents, of
the commemorative schedule
Just as the employers capitulated
so have the stock liability insurance
companies, many of which, immediate
ly upon the passage of the employers
liability law, boosted their insurance
rates to an excessive scale. The New
Jersey legislature came back at these
companies by passing law at the
last session permitting the organiza
ton of mutual companies by ten or
more persons, allowing the issuing of
insurance in all its branches, including
Industrial, accident and casualty. The
rates Of the stock companies immedi
ately began to tumble, for the law, as
intended, inspired the formation of
mutuals among big employers in any
community, and with the requirements
Of the employers liability law making
this desirable move the act was
death thrust at high rates.
Down came the rates as a conse-
quence, and in the fierce competition
among the stock companies for bust
ness in this new field the law has
opened up new reductions are being
made by one company or another ev
cry month. When the employers liza
bility law went into effect, for exam
pie, the companies were charging 81
and SIS for annual insurance, under the
laws schedule Of compensation, for
domestic servant That particular rate
is down now to So, and it is going
lower, the insurance men themselves
admit Factory employees are even on
less percentage, according to the
hazard Of their employment
What this actually means to the en-
ployee injured and seeking damages or
to the dependents of an employee killed
in an industrial accident is illustrated
In a statement by William e. Stubs,
secretary of the employers liability
commission, appointed by Governor
Wilson
Under the old system of suing in the
courts for compensation" says Secre-
tary Stubs, lit appears from the best
figures obtainable that the injured
were receiving on the average only
about one-third of what they were
awarded by the courts-that is, the
employers were paying about So. of
which 81 went to the employee or his
dependents and 50 to his legal adviser
and for court costs
1.-THE employers liability law entirely
eliminates that useless waste.
Labor Commissioner Bryant says at
the law:
I'm the last analysis am satisfied
that the enactment of the employers
liability and workmen's compensation
law will prove a decided blessing not
only to the workman, who under the
old system saw two-thirds of the
amount of money expended by the
manufacturers for compensating him
against injury dissipated by the insur-
ance company, court costs and ambu-
lance chasing lawyers, but also to the
employer of labor, who under this sys
tenn will have the satisfaction of real
izing that a very much larger percent
age of the expenditure made by him is
reaching the source for which it was
intended. Again, the workman, who
Is satisfied that he is surrounded by
better means of protection and that in
case of injury either he or his family
will receive known compensation,
will reflect these improved conditions
by greater ability and a higher degree
of efficiency.
Under our law the settlement of in
juries may be adjusted directly be
tween the employer and employee, and
the injured workman will thereby re
ceive the benefit of every dollar that II
costs the employer. The employer will
be relieved from the burden of law
suits and the uncertainty or liability OF
excessive damages The workman
knows that he is assured of 80 per cent
of his wages during industrial diSabiE
ity, with all that this implies. and, fur
Their, that his dependents Will receive a
fixed compensation in case of a fatal
accident
Altogether the new system after il
has been thoroughly installed would
uppear to commend itself to all the
parties concerned. with the probable
exception of the ambulance chasers,
who were obtaining a living off the
misfortunes of the injured.
"The employers liability law after
one year of its operation has been so
well received by both the employers of
labor and the workers in the state
chat after holding public hearings the
EMPLOYERS liability commission decided
TO recommend only few minor correc
tions to the text Of the act"
BrickIayers May Affiliate.