The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-05-17
FOUGHT BY INSURANCE MEN
They Threatened to Raise All Their
Rates If Employers Liability Law
Were Passed, but Became Quiet at
Hint of State Offering Indemnity.
[sacramento (Cal.) Union.l

erDOF OF New Jersey He lOuuu IudI
wealthy employers had been given the
laws they desired regardless of the
welfare of the thousands of men, wo-
men and children on their payrolls,
state scores had been killed or MAIN
ed for life and that there was abso-
lutely no provision for the protection
of the families of those workingmen
engaged in hazardous occupations. He
found that the bosses had been carry
ing out the wishes Of the interests,
from which they had obtained cam
palgn contributions.
That was the situation in corrupt
New Jersey, where the conditions of
labor had been VIGOROUSLY oppressive
and seemingly hopeless for a genera
ton. But Governor Wilson determin.
ed to change it and with his custom
airy vigor tackled the problem.
Employers Liability Law.
One of the reforms he effected was
the enactment of a strong employers
liability law. But for this he had to
fight with the same grim and IN
swerving purpose that had obtained
the Geran primary election law. After
the bill had been introduced in the LEG
islature and became known as one OF
the governors measures the insurance
companies sent representatives to tn"
capitol and through them threatened
reprisal. "If you enact such a law
We'll raise the rates on all insurance
throughout the state. Well pile them
up on everybody" they said. But the
bluff didn't work
Every well, gentlemen. as you
please" replied Governor Wilson, but
remember that if you try anything OF
that kind it may be necessary for us
to establish a system of state insur
ance." After that the insurance com
panies decided that silence was the
better part of wisdom.
The employers liability law was
passed, and an apparently fair statute
it is, essentially fair to the employee
as well as to the employee. for Wood
row Wilson is not a demagogue VIII
plays for labor's support He merel
believes in justice to the whole people
within the authority of his office.
Prevents Long Litigation.
The law prescribes the liability of an
employer to make compensation for in
juries sustained by an employee in the
course of employment. 1t establishes
an elective schedule of payment and
strictly regulates the procedure for de
termining the liability and compenSa-
ton. 1t relieves an employee who is
injured Of the necessity Of instituting
suit to obtain damages by providin-
a definite schedule covering the differ
ent classes of injuries and fixing the
employers liability for each.
Employers now regard the law AS
fair because under it they can calcu
late with reasonable certainty what
their maximum liability for any onr
year will be instead of leaving this t.
be determined by Jurors. Employee
are greatly benefited by it because il
case of accident it secures to them
without delay fixed income at time
when money is most needed and be
cause it avoids long drawn out litiga
ton. with its attendant expense and
suffering.
Real Service to Labor.
Governor Wilson meant it for both
He supplemented it shortly with a law
compelling the erection of fire escapes
on all factories and buildings housing
a number of employees-not one or two
spider ladders, but equipment sutii
Gent to prevent a recurrence in New
Jersey of the horrors that had shocked
the people of the New England manu-
featuring cities.
Such laws are worth something to
labor. They reflect the opinion of "a
man who believes in the honesty of la
boris purpose to the extent that he
holds labor above seeking selfish or
undue advantage. AS they were Ell
acted they represented steps in v
sons restoration Of New Jerseys gor
eminent TO the people. They WIZ =
genuine reforms into the statute boots
Lakewood IN. NJ Progress: ut is ii
significant fact that about three
fourths of the small Democratic a"i
progressive newspapers of the count .
are for Woodrow Wilson. and all ct
the Republican papers are doing ever
thing in their power to defeat his nom
nation for the presidency. This go -
to show who the Democrats want and
whom the Republicans fear"
Rockford CID Star: at is Woodrow
Wilson against the field and against
Wall street too"
Gaffney (S c. Ledger: ITS pre-
cious little comfort the boomers "
Messrs. Harmon. Clark and Under
wood are receiving in this state ~
be perfectly frank about it. Governor
Ti.sOa seems % aaVe the gca. it'd
Out."
Hartford Conn Post: Governor
Wilson Of New Jersey says that our
tariff is mistit-that it's chld's gar
ment. Perhaps that's so. Somehow it
does pinch terribly, and It's getting
worse all the time"
Harrisburg Pa) Patriot: Hon.
Tonoas O'Gorp,on uhn IoPt tho hoDoh