The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-07-12
IN THE LINE OF PROGRESS.
Pennsylvania Plans a Workmen's
Compensation Law.


Compensation Law.
The draft of a workmen's compensa-
ton law which has just been made
public by the state industrial accidents
commission will, if it shall be accepted
by the next legislature, mark new
method of dealing with the problem Of
employers liability in Pennsylvania,
but is quite in line with the trend of
legislation all over the civilized world
1t cannot be doubted that the coming
legislature will adopt this or some sim
liar law, just as it is certain that there
will be an enactment in the direction
of systematized control over public
utility corporations, and 1t is of the
utmost Importance, therefore, that the
people should famliariZe themselves
with what is proposed and adapt them
selves to the changed conditions which
the new laws will bring about.
The principle of a legalized scheme
of compensation for workmen injured
in the performance of their daily Ia
Dor, in lieu Of dependence upon litiga
common law, is so widely recognized
that the chief attention which the sub
| ject is now receiving is based merely
upon details, upon the consideration Of
ways and means by which the desired
end can be attained without undue
hardship to the employers. In dozen
of the states new laws have been
adopted or are in preparation. The
United States government has already
put into statute law and the supreme
court has sustained the principle OF
the employers liability so far as it APP
plies to the railways engaged in inter
state commerce, and a commission ap
pointed upon the recommendation of
President Taft has recently drafted q
compensation law intended to supple
ment the earlier legislation.
1t may be assumed that the Penn.
sylvania commission has had the full
benefit not only of the opinions of the
employers of their own state, but Of
the experience of other states and of
the foreign countries which have pre-
coded the United States in this class
of ameliorative legislation. OF course
the new feature of the modern pro
gram is the elimination of the theory
of fault or negligence as a condition
of compensation and to insure to the
injured workman some form Of com
pensation for injury, wiIlfuI intention
alone being a legal claim in defense
Viewed specifically, the effect Of such
enactments will be enormously to in.
crease the liability of employers and
to stimulate one class of insurance
business.
But even employers are coming to
recognize that the tendency of this
benefit of the employees and that the
system that it is displacing is waste.
full and vexatious and that it is one
of the prime causes for the bitter feel
ing too often found to exist between
employers and employed. Very large
sums are annually expended in dam.
ages to injured employees, but a large
proportion of this money goes not to
the accident victims, but is wasted in
legal expenses, and there is o large
class of unfortunate sufferers VINO re-
ceive no compensation at all. The
whole burden of loss in many in
stances falls altogether upon the work
man. The present system encourages
perjury and misrepresentation and is |
deadening to sentiments of humanity .
and justice
Without going into the details of !
the carefully planned scheme suggest |
ed by the commission for Pennsyva. |
MIA 1t may be observed that they fol. |
low closely the lines Of other success
full plans IN other states and coun.
tries If oue-half Of the benefits that
re promised from the operation of
such laws shall be realized they will
be worth the trial They will even
Justify the possible disadvantages
which will inevitably attend the in
PRODUCTION Of a system so different
from that to which industry has been
accustomed for generations. If it
helps to promote industrial peace, to
reduce the number of accidents by in
creasing the vigilance and precautions
Of employers to conserve true econo-
my, to reduce pauperism and promote
human happiness, it will unquestion-
ably mark a long step forward in so
cial progress Phiadelphia Ledger