Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-05-02
Gov, wilson and
LAWS FOR LABOR
Real Service H3 R3a.3rs5 %
New J3Js2j VcTt9C&
FOUGHT BY INSURANCE hi:A
They Threatened to Raise All Their
Rates { EmpIoyero' Liability Law
We're Passed, but Became ogiet at
Hint Of State Offering indemnity.

[sacramento (Cal) Union.l
When Woodrow Wilson became gov
error of New Jersey be found that
wealthy employers had been given the
laws they desired regardless Of the
welfare of the thousands Of men. wo-
men and children Oh their %payrolls.
lie found that in the factories of the
state scores had been killed or MAIN
cd for life and that there was Also.
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
pnicn contributions.
That was the situation IN corrupt
New Jersey, where the conditions Of
labor had been VIGOROUSLY oppressive
and seemingly hopeless for a genera
tlon. But Governor Wilson determln-
ed to change it and with his custom.
ary 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 m.
swerving purpose that had obtained
tAe Geran primary election law. After
the bill had been Introduced In the leg
lslSture and became known as Z Of
the governors measures the Insurance
companies sent representatives to the
capitol and through them threatened
roprisal. Tf 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.
VERY well, gentlemen, rs yor
r%,ease," 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 instr
ancc." After that the insurance com
panies decided that silence Was -
better part of wisdom,
The employers liability law wa,
passed, and an apparently fair statute
it is, essentially fair to the employer
as well as to the employee, for Wood
row Wilson is not a d]emagogue wLl
plays for Iabor's support, He merel,
, believes in Justice to the whole peopi,
] within the authority of bis 0flce.
Prevents Long Litigation.
: The law preScribes the liability Of NJ
t employer to make compensation for in
. juries sustained by an employee in IT,
. course of employment, 1t establiShe
m elective schedule Of payment an,
strictly regulates the procedure for de
termining the liability and compensa
ton. 1t relieves an employee who i
= injured of the necessity Of institutin
suit to obtain damages b. proyidin
f a definite schedule covering the differ
n ent classes Of injuries and fixing tn
employers liability for each.
Employers now regard the law a
p fair because under it they can calcl
+, late with reasonable certainty WIFI
~ their maximum liability for any on
., year will be instead OF leaving this {
be determined by jurors. Employed
- are greatly benefited by it because
! ease Of accident it secures to the
without delay . fixed income at a tin
u, when money is most needed and =
-. cause it avoids long drawn out litiT.
ton. with its attendant expense ar
suffering.