The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-02-09
SOME REFLECTIONS ON
COMPENSATION ACT

the first time in the history Of this State we are able
to glimpse something Of the toll paying industry
shape of human life, bodies wives orphaned chill
dren and broken homes Claims for compensation injuries
ceved while in course of employment have been received by the
commission at the rate of six hundred Multiplied by
and we have 12O0 deaths and injuries in year industrial
poymen small percentage OF these claims may be fraudulent but
the total will stand very
must be borne in mind that many injuries daily of which
commission never hears and for which there accounting This
true because the law is and many understanding It's
we know the figures do tell the whole story will that
1900 injured die during the of injuries received The
Der about 10000 Nearly ten then in industrial employment
are injured during the year One in small number You say.
The far large for commonwealth call itself
civilized out of every bankers lawyers DOCTORS
preachers death injury every year
they followed would have been found years to
lessen the toll.
We hear much of the careesness of wornn which
injury death Men rt with hazardous machinery unit they be
come seemingly indifferent to the hazard and in am mguarded
moment the careless movement happens which n off finger
study and we are inclined to believe that what we call creness
rather induced by the strain Of machinery driven
caused by the fast driven machinery You the
you enter the plant Statistics gaheed-ather haphazar it is
occur between the hours of 10 and - and and There
lis deal of significance that latter statement that rather
turns the careless theory
Granting of the argument worlmen ARE
ed through home temporarily per-
manently deprived of the bread winner careless too? Are the chill
dren who poorly nourhed and i'll clothed to school
old either they else established the maxim
that he innocent suffer with the guilty for neither the in
ued workman his dependents ever recovered anything IN the
courts if the defense could conrbuo negligence The
a
may up complete their ucaon without fear
starvation least Under the old law they must have become child
workers or wards of charity. The man was careIess
brought attention recently
employed by Port IIadok fell into the and
When the travelling auditor for the commission visited the
TT IrIr conained brpad rnstsat was al T an had ben
la workman but adversely had followed him and his family
self and her children The law recognizes at least that industry
in industry.
Many might be written of the humane features of the
went into effect At first thought would incredible that
could be found lost Of justice that that
upn the statute of
things masqueradng men-who, if they could would wipe the
the fundamental principles of the They object to the classified
ons they depore the POSSIBILITY OF powerful statewide political
they voice the dastardy scheme that their
hearts redevery working people of this the mec
that the law will need changes Recosscons will be
hap and will be taken care Of Some men may try to
obtain compensation that they not entitled to- an honest com
mission will attend to that That there shall always be an honest
commission will be attended to by the voters TINS state who are
going elect office who have borne in their own persons
the burdens of the oe and who will remain true the spirit OF
democracy The compensation measure has been d Tor many times
over in human toll and suffering and the prmepe that industry
must bear the cost OF industry VIII never be erased from the statute
books of Washington.
If men must be bruised industrial
dusry itself pay the bill But sight must not be lost of the
accidents that forms the deep underlying principle of such sa
The wife and children do the manged dead form
husband and father brought home them though the
fifty times thousand dollars They the
breadwer coming in the door safe and sound after his day of
toll CHEEKY smile upon his lips his ouSreched for the close
embrace of his loved The protection of life and limb through
safeguarding machinery the of this legislation the
vital thing be attained worker sound of limb hale and hearty
why, he's the than fifty dead men, And when
kill cripple than does safeguard
chner every pecauon that be taken to lessen hazard will
be That sounds cold Mooded doen t But it question
that question fails interest the
poyers nothing else does interest them If employer in any
careless negligent and result has
accidents he raises the of insurance for his competitors
his neglect and his accidents pile he is put IN
where higher and he the penalty This
happen That every manufacturer becomes personally
pointed plant his brother manufacturer be
accidents Not only that but the auto
study closely the accidents from
all view points The cooperation empoye win be sought
accidents closer and rigid inspection of fac
tories scientific whole problem of industrial accidents
made phase the question the most interesting ol
all this percentage of injuries to minimum
We do not hope industrial without accidents deaths
That is hevond the conjecture We do hope
when emniovers will not say How pay and