The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-05-04
new LABOR BILL
A taft POLICY
Liability and Compensation
Measure Progressive.
JUSTICE IS ITS OBJECT
President Approves Proposed Leosia-
ton Making Federal Labor Laws Fit
Modern Conditions--Lesal Machinery
SimpIified.

SImpiiTted.
AS the reault OF the personal interest
of President Taft in all matters af-
fecting the worlangmen of the country.
congress has before If today COM
prehensive bill on employers liability
and workmens compensation which is
recognized as one of the most progress
aive OF the many achievements vi the
ported by commission appointed by
President Taft pursuan! u II joint res
ointion of congress passed Oh June p.
1919. and t was recently sent to com
gress by The president. accompanied
with a message recommending its pas
sage AZ DATED the measure pro-
vides an exclusive remedy aud com
pensutiou for accidental injuries ~
sulting IN disabilities .r death 10 en-.
ploTees of common carriers engaged
In interstate or foreign commerce or
IN the Dist'ict Of Columbia
This COMPREHENSIVE legislation Is the
direct Outcome Of the general unsatiS
factoriuess Of tabor legislation passed
by cougre@i iii recent years q 4 Is IL
illustrative d the Taft method reach
ing III admitted evil By pal taking
investigates followed by carefully
considered hWs. As is we'll known the
first employers liability law passed IN
The last ADMINISTRATION was declared
unconstitutional ~ the courts. \ new
law to take ts place was passed "
Ger this administration, but it was gen
orally understood at the time that the
comprehensive measure now before
congress vas to follow, both as to
liability ard compensation. as soon as
the necessary investigation into tile
subject cq.id be made. The result Is
that the workinsDen OF TIL GnitgG
States. So far as they can be rpachat
by fedora law, will soon he worLine
under one OF the most enligntened III
Dor laws sn record
Provision Is made in the bill as draft
ed Tentatively. that every common ca
rer engagcd In interstate o. fura;gn
commerce shah ray conversations in
the amounts specified in he bai tofsAy
OF It's employees who sussans ilttfsssgil
injury by soclisent arising out al aA9
in the course CT his employment aHd
resulting In his, disability OF to his de
pendeats In case OF death.
Il is provided IN the bill that the IL
jured employee shall have medical a
tendance and surgical aid when nee
essnry. the last mentioned being limit
ed 10 $500 The monthly wagCs OF al
employee are deemed 10 be twenty six
times the established days pay. aud
$50 Is the minimum monthly wage nay
ment. Ii is also provided that sill co..
pensation shall be paid monthly unlea
computed to q lump sum
Death benefits are provided for at q
specific percentage of tie mans WAGES
to be paia to the widow with IN IN
crease IN the amount when there art
dependent children, and in case OF NJ
dependents the payment OF the bnria
expenses Is required The matter q
personal injur.> compensation Is a!st
covered In fair and equitable pre-
vision
Another feature OF the proposed ae
is clear definition Of The term de
pendent" rs well as of what conSti
tutes III injury" and an "empl0 &c
Legal complications are provided for
renorts oe accidents, payments ant
operations under the law to the inter
state commerce commission are re
Guiged. and il is declared that the pro
posed net shall take effect on July |
1912 and cited as the federal com
paGaaticn act Of 1872
In its Investigations Of this sub'ec
the coninason determined at the out
set that in substance the doctrines 0
the common law originating under COM
paratively simple conditions We're III
Just rs applied 70 the complex relation
or master and servant. The use o
complicated machinery, steam and cleo
fricitT has had the effect of increasln
the dep!orable antagonism betwee,
employer end employee and ofte'
giving a few injured employees larg
aad frequently eXtravagant damages
Nhile the great majority have been Iet
10 Bear the entire burden without an
feeosnpense whatever
At the time of the adoption Of tn
common law rules OF liability indus
trial conditions We're radically differ
ent from those Of today. The humble
or employees was smaller becaus
there were few big Industrial plants
',slhe business carried on was small 1
extent. the appliances used IN tn
work consisted largely Of hand tool
while the power was simple In chai
acter, With little danger to the en-
pioyee. Under such conditions til
rules Of common law originated.
ioaay there is a vast differenc,
PRESIDENT Taft. in the message While
transmitted the report Of the commit
aon to congress. aptly says. III speal
ing OF the proposed bill, shat it Is on
y the great steps OF progress towar
- satisfactory solution Of an importar
phase OF the controversies between en-
L pIQyefS md ornp1oyoos that bovo hoo