Evening journal., 1912-10-17
WORKINCMENrS
COMPENSATION
ACT IS URGED
Continued From FIRST Page.

0OIlNutu FIOiu Illhi Idttt
they contain the good points of both
laws
The New Jersey act includes all
workers while some Of the states
eliminate the farm help and domestic
servants The speaker thought all
should be included but said that a
line Of classification could be drawn.
The compensation is derived from a
certain percentage collected from the
pay roll The State does not guaran-
tee il but IL merely collects It. Tn
der the State Insurance plan Judge
Laffey thought injustices could be
done, such as the poorly equipped
factory being aafeguarded at the ex-
pcnse of the better ones. The best
argument for the State insurance he
said was that 1t was sure as in the
case OF an insolvent firm The prac-
tiCal effect of State insurance, he
said, would be to create a small army
OF Office holders, inspectors, physi-
clans and the like. all entailing a
great waste
Both the insurance and classihca-
tion plans provided the same sched-
ule of compensation, which is about
30 per cent OF mans wages in case
of death, but the difference was in the
method The same costs would pre-
vail here as elsewhere.
The workings of the law in Wash
ington was told by Judge Laffey
where he said there were three pow
der making companies. One of these,
the dupont paid about $4,000, as it's
percentage toward the compensation.
Two other small concerns paid about
So, 700 and one of them had explo-
sioa in which nine persons were kill
ed The smaller firm was unable TO
par the damages of $4,000 and the
81 ate asked his company for their
Stare of the compensation This they
had refused 20 do.
Under such a compensation act
Tho lawyers and claim agents fees
would be eliminated, Judge Laffey
said and the only question to be
really considered was whether the
compensation should be so or &C 2-3
per cent Whatever is done the rate
here. he urged should be the same
as the neighboring states, otherwise
the manufacturers would naturally
discriminate.
Judge Laffey also said that all the
necessary work incidental 10 the pay
ing Of the compensation could be
done by some of the present officials
he being opposed 10 board OF com
pensation, as under the law there are
few disputes.
The question of whether aliens
could come within the law, was
brought up, Judge Laffey saying that
Pennsylvania allowed IL to them,
whereas New Jersey did not allow IL.
The speaker. however. favored the al
lowance II WAS asked by one OF
those present If this condition would
not result in employers discriminat-
ing against the American laborer, but
Judge Laffcy declared he never heard
OF the law being used that way.
The first aid costs, the speaker said
had so be considered and he urged
that 500 be all that would be allow
ed here. Otherwise the rate would be
very high here.
Oscar r. Crosby, president of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
tion Company. fovored the law, saying
it worked we'll in New Jersey where
one OF his trolley lines was located
There had been no disputes there. he
said about compensation between the
company and It's employees
The last speaker of the afternoon
was n. p. Alifas, representing the In
| ternational Association OF Machin-
lists who was sent here from Wash
ington. Mr. Atlas advocated the same
compensation act now being consid-
cred by the judiciary committee OF
the House of Representatives, which
deals with Interstate railroads only
He thought the compulsory act the
best and also favored board whose
duty il would be to pass on all ac-
cidents and other business. He like
wise favored compensation for aliens
Another meeting viii be held in the
near future.