New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-29
CAYNOR FOR WORKMEN
Advocates Compensation Law
in All of the States.
AMERICA BEHIND EUROPE
Mayor Writes Letter Praising
System Now on Ohio's
Statute Books.

Mayor Gaynor in p letter TO William c.
Archer, secretary of the State Liability
Board Of Awards Of Ohio, made public
yesterday, praises the workmen's COM
pensation act passed this year in ONO
and advocates such a law for all the
states, TO be followed by an old age PEN
sion measure or system covering all sn-
dustrial workers.
The city of New York Is soon TO have
be retired on 4 pension for old age or
disability. the Mayor says, and he asks
why the same rule should not apply to
all industrial workers. no matter by
whom they are employed. Those Of us.
he says. who ventured to say word
in favor Of such things a few years ago
were denounced as socialists and anarch-
lists, used as words of opprobriunl, es-
pecially by newspapers and persons who
do not know what socialism is. Let them
call 1t anything they like. Distributive
justice requires that it shall come TO
pass. The old workers should not be
turned out to die. or live in distress. or
go to the poorhouse, nor should the
manned or hurt"
The letter follows.
Dear Mr.. Archer: am much indebted
to you for sending me the worhmen's
compensation act passed in Ohio this
creation OF state insurance fund by
means OF tax on employers and en-
Dloyes, based on the aggregate wages
paid by each mandatory or establish
n fs.. faf. -fAa. .lz,N 10 y
employees by accidents in their work,
create an admirable system. :.
System Old in Europe.
Nearly, all the governments of the
world outside OF this country have some
similar law for the benefit of employees.
1t is an old thing in Europe. Every
Turkey ard some states OF Switzerland,
and throughout the world we find sim
liar laws as rule. Prussia had one as
early as lS47, / think: In this country
humane matter. l doubt If any govern
ment has better law on the subject
than this newest one OF all which you
have passed in Ohio. But will the courts
knock 1t over, as the highest court In
this state did with the very moderate
one we passed In this state as a begin
ming three years ago?
People are beginning to see that So
cial and economic justice requires that
we have these laws. The industrial
workers should be paid for the injuries
which they receive In their work. and
the dependents Of those killed should be
likewise paid. II Is easy to accumulate
a fund for this purpose by a light tax
OF employers and employees. In England
the employers are taxed for a part, the
employees for part, and general taxa
ton makes up the remainder of the
fund. Russia has model law on the
subject | think the recent English one
is modelled on the Russian one. but you
are more competent on that head than
| am.
| suppose you know that here in this
city we are empowered in our discretion
to retire on an old age pension all old
persons who have been in the city en-
ployment FOR thirty years. We also have
old age pension laws for several of our
departments For example. our street
cleaners have pension fund. out OF
which they are paid a permanent yearly
sum after they are retired from the EN-
age or physical or mental disability.
And we are soon to have such a law for
all of our city employees
Why should not the same rule apply
TO all industrial workers, as well as to
those who work for the city of New
York or other cities7 ] hope the time liz
tast approaching when that will be SO.
IL has been voluntarily established by
some railroads and large industrial es-
adjustments. Those Of us who ventured
10 say word In favor of such things a
few years ago weN denounced as social
lists and anarchists. used as words of
opproCrium, especially by newspapers
and people who do not know what social
ism is.