The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-01-18
The BIindness of Bourbonism

should pay taxes on the same OASIS
and in the same proportion as all the
other property in the state. the
railroad officials said, in effect:
''Oh, very well. Well fix that.
Well make up the increase in our
taxes by increasing our freight
rates. It's very simple, you know.
Tt was. IT was even simpler than
the railroad managers thought. But
what happened was not exactly
what these overlords of trans porta
ton expected. The people met the
situation by creating railroad CON-
mission TO see that railroad rates
and services were made reasonable.
1t worked. The railroads now
pay their full and just share of the
taxes. They run their trains and
make their rates under the watchful
eye of an expert commission that
stands ever ready to batter down
an unreasonably high rate or prod
up unreasonably slow service.
Last year the Wisconsin legislt
ture passed a workmen 8 compenss-
ton law. It is regarded as the
best of it's kind ever enacted.
It is stamped with the ap-
prevail of the Supreme Court. It's
purpose is to make certain that the
vast sums of money cow spent as a
result of industrial accidents go
where they rightfully belong-to the
injured workman. 1t leaves slim
picking for the ambulance chaser. "
1t reduces expenses of litigation to
negligible amount. 1t puts in the
pockets of the employee who has
met with an accident in the course
of his duty Tor of his dependents
enough money to furnish protection
against hunger and distress. When
a man s earning power is shut of
this law stands a. guard to keep
the Wolf from his door. It's wise,
humane statue.
It is not compulsory upon en-
ployers or employees to take advan-
tage of the provisions of this law.
But as an ii1ducement sort of per-
suader to bring the back ward or the
blind into one with this new plan OF
caring for injured toilers-the Wis
consin law takes away two of the
old 'sdefenses ''-fellow servant. ard
and assumption of risk. No more
may manufacturer lnterpose these
Anticipated rules between his en-
ployee and just damages for an &C
cidental injury.
Big liability insurance companies
regard this law with disfavor. In
their eyes it is too much like Inter
ference with business. So they
proceeded to raise their rates, ire
mesdously.
Not only that. BY means Of
printed literature. they spread mis-
Information and distrust of the
workmen's compensation law among
the manufacturers who might other
wise have elected to come within it's
operation.
Recently the foreign liability in
surance companies combined in put
ting out uniform rate book with
instructions to agents. Of these
books, Chairman Crownhart of the
Industrial Commission says:
''The instructions to agents inter
preting the compensation act are
practically all wrong. or misleading.
II is difficult to see how these COM
panies could honestly issue such in
structions.
Whereupon the state Commission
err of Insurance Ekern ordered all
the companies to withdraw from
circulation The misleading and Of
. Tending instructions.
Wisconsin s experience with the
insurance companies is not unique.
California met the same inordinate
increase of rates, following the pas
sage of her workmen's compensa-
ton law. So did New Jersey.
Governor Johnson and Governor
Wilson met this action in like man
ner. They said no state would long
rernain at the mercy of these COM
panies-even if it were necessary to
free itself by means of State Ipsur-
ance.
Wisconsin could not be cowed by
railroad arrogance, Do the great
liability insurance companies ina
gine&they will succeed where the
mighty railroads failed? Do they
think they can bring that state to
terms. their terms?-LaFollette's.
Stops earache in two minutes;
toothache or pain of burn or scald in