The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-07-27
NEW YORK LABOR
CHIEF IN DULUTH
Continued from Paae 1.

injured workmen, only 80 cents went
to the side of injured workmen, the
remainder being retained by the in
surance companies. The report also
developed the fact that only Is cents
of the 80 cents went to the workmen.
The report showed that in one year
1t cost the city of New York IS, 600. 900
to operate courts in which verd!cts
for $1,S00,OO0 only We're returned.
AS a result Of the report. the Leg
islature adopted workinsmen's
compensation law in 1910, but It was
declared unconstitutional by the
court Of appeals on the ground that
1t contemplated deprivation Of prop
erty without due process of law.
MI. Williams said today that he is
very hopeful that a constitutional
amendment that will pave the way
for new compensation act will be
submitted to the people and adopted
In the fall of 1913. The New York
constitution provides that amend
ments must be passed on twice by the
legislature before submission to the
people. The amendment has already
been passed on by the legislature
once. and will come up for action
again next winter. Mr.. Williams has
no doubt but that it will pass.
Must Take Action.
1.-The employers Of the state of New
York realize that something must be
done to meet the demand for COM
pensation for injured employees" he
said. There is little difference of
ho orix> ;~1-
method Of compensation causes grave
questions to arise. We believe that
the law adopted in 1910 is just to
employers and employees. and if the
constitutional amendment to be sub
m1tted next year is adopted, we shall
ask the legislature to enact a law
which will be substantially the same
as that formerly declared unconsti-
tutional
Since the New York court of ap-
peals killed our compensation law,
the courts of Wisconsin and Oregon
have taken a different view holding
that compensation for injuries pre-.
scribed by law is a just charge
against employers.
employers of the state of New
York are acceding to the popular de-
mand for the protection of the health
and well-being of their employees.
Some have not really submitted to
modern thought on the subject, but
they have been whipped into line
by legislation. Since the Asche build
ing fire in 1911 some very drastic
factory legislation has been adopted
by the legislature. Our greatest diff
ficulty was to prevent the legislators
from putting through half baked leg
islation without giving it proper con-
sideration. Our new factory legisla-
ton insures protection for men and
women working in the factories Of
New York. and We believe that it's
strict enforcement will prevent
recurrence Of the Asche building hor-
ror.
Employers Are Fair.
LAS an example of the new attitude
Of employers. I might point out that
after a recent strike, the Interna-
tional Paper company took one of
our men into it's employ as mediator,
His duties are to hear and consider
all complaints Of employees and to
bring them to satisfactory settle
ment.
I'VE have had the cooperation of
the legislature in our work, as the
factory legislation of the last session
will show. We believe that the next
legislature will vote to submit the
compensation act amendment to the
people. and that 1t will be adopted
and the way paved for a thorough
going act that will be fair to ever,.-
body concerned. For the time. we
will have to content ourselves with a
law covering certain specific hazard
Gus occupations, but that will go
long way toward solving the great
problem.'