The new era., 1912-05-02
new LABOR BILL
A TAFT POLICY
Liability and Compensation
Measure Progressive.
JUSTICE IS ITS OBJECT
Prea'dent Approves Proposed LeaIsIa.
tson Making Federal Labor Laws
FIT Modern conditions-i-esaI
Machinery SimpIIfied-


fectins the workingmen OF the coun.
u!' congress has before 1t today n
comprehensive bin on employers Iia.
bllity and worimcnS compensation
which Is recognized as one OF the most
progressive OF the many achievements
OF the Taft administrator. The bill
was reported by a commission ap.
pointed by President Taft pursuant to
joint resolution OF congress passed
on June %. 1910. and II was recently
sent to congress by the president ac.
comranied with message recon-
mendins its passage. AS drafted the
measure provides an exclusive rem.
edy and compensation for accidental
injuries resulting in disabilities or
death to employees OF common car
riers engaged In Interstate or foreign
commerce or In the District OF Colum.
bia.
This comprehensive Legislation is
the direct outcome OF the general un.
satisfGctoriness oil labor legislation
passed by congress In recent years
and Is illustrative OF the TAFT method
OF reaching an admitted evil by a
painstaklng investigation followed by
carefully considered laws. AS is well
known. the first employers liability
law passed In the last administration
was declared unconstitutional by the
courts. a new law to take its place
was passed under this administration.
but 1t was generally understood at
the time that the comprehensive meas
ure now before congress was to fol.
low. both as to liability and compensa-
tion. us soon rs the necessary tnves.
tigation into the subject could be
made. Tho result Is that the work.
ingmen OF the United States, so far as
they can be reached by federal law.
will soon be working under one OF
the most enlightened labor laws on
record.
Provision Is made in the bill. as
drafted tentatively, that every com.
mon carrier. engaged in Interstate or
foreign commerce. shall pay compen.
sations In the amounts specified In
the bill to any OF it's employees who
sustains personal injury by accident
arising out OF and in tho course OF
his employment. ard resulting in hrs
disability. or to his dependents In
case Of death.
It is provided in the ) bill that the
injured employee shall have medical
attendance. and surgical aid. when
necessary, the last mentioned being
limited to $500. The monthly wages
OF an employee is deemed to be 26
times the established days pay, and
$50 is the minimum monthly wage
payment. 1t Is also provided that all
compensation under the act shall be
paid monthly. unless computed to a
lump sum.
Death benefits are provided for at a
specific percentage OF the mans wages
to be paid to the widow, with an in
crease in the amount when there are
dependent children and in case OF no
dependents the payment OF the burial
expenses is required. The matter OF
personal injury compensation is also
covered in fair and equitable provi-
sion of compensation for the injured
employee.
Another feature OF the proposed act
is clear definition of the term de
pendent" as well as OF what consti.
tute5 an injury" and an employee" !"
Legal complications are provided for.
reports OF accidents, payments and
operations under the law to the in.
terstute commerce commission, are re.
uuired and II is declared that the pro.
posed act shall take effect on July l.
i912, and cited as The Federal Com,
pensatiou Act OF 1912"
In It's Investigations OF this subject
= -p,- ,tr,o =
get that in substance the doctrines OF
the common law originating under
comparatively staple conditions were
unjust as applied to the complex re-
lations OF master and servant. The
use of complicated machinery, steam
aud electricity has had the effect vi
increasing the deplOrable cntasoRism
between I uplOyer and employee and
often giving a few ,iiTlred employees
lart and frequently eXtravaSant dam,
ages, while the great majority have
Deep left to bear the entire burden
without any recompensa whatever.
At the time of the adoption OF the
common law rules of liability Indus
trial conditions were radically differ
.ut from those OF today. The number
of employees was smaller because
there were lew big industrial plants
rbe business carried on was small in
extent, the appii"nces used in the
work consisted largely OF hand tools
while the rover was simple in char
acter with iitic &2N@Hr to the em
p!oyee. Under such conditions the
rules OF comIuon law originated.
Today there is vast difference
President Taft, in the message which
transmitted the report of the commis,
s,ap 70 congress. aptly says, IN speak.
ing of the proposed hill; That 1t is
one of the great steps of progress to
ward a satisfactory solution of an i'm