Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-09
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.

which has been prepared by a
commission appointed by Cover
nor West, and which will be submitted
to the coming legislature. is in accord
ance with modern thought and how
ever defective It may prove to be, Is
certainly move in the right direction,
for It is calculated for the protection
Of workmen, especially those engaged
In hazardous occupations.
Under the present laws conditions
are very unsatisfactory to all con-
cerned. They place a heavy burden on
the employer, and they do not ade-
quately protect the empIoye, for, In
stead of placing the employer and en-
ploye on anything like an equality,
making them both favorable to, and
Interested in the plan, they are made
enemies to each other, In every at
tempt to enforce them. The employer,
naturally resists payment Of damages
for injuries received by an employe
since the money must be paid by him.
and the employe hesitates long about
even trying to recover damages, for II
means tiresomo and generally long
drawn out lawsuit; and even If sue
Cessful the payment OF large por-
ton Of the amount recovered TO his
attorneys. Generally an injured em-
ploye has but little money seldom
enough to employ and pay attorneys,
and as these, If they take his case at
all, are forced to rely for their pay up-
on recovering a verdict and collecting
the money, in other words must take q
contingent fec their charges arc
double or moro what they would be II
paid for their work. No fault can be
found with the attorneys for this, for
their fees are based in these cases on
averages" and must necessarily be
higher, 50 that out Of given number
of suits they get reasonable fee for
their services.
The governors plan or that Of the
commissioners, Is oharmonze these
differences, to have the employees do
something themselves towards paying
for the injuries done some Of them
sort of mutual insurance, but also
putting a portion Of the burden on the
employers, who, along with the em-
ployes, contribute to general fund.-
out of which injured worllmen could be
at least partially reoompensed, insofar
as money could do IT, and provided
with means Of support
Another good feature, and proper
one, is that the plan recognizes that
the state is also interested in the mat
ter Of Injured employees, for under GER
tain circumstances and conditions, the
state or county wherein they reside
must care for them II totally dis
ablcd. and, with no near relatives in
condition to care for Them the state
or county must do so. For this reason
the state is an interested party and as
such will also be called upon to con.
tribute to the fund for caring for tho
injured omploye.
II is proposed to whip this plan I'm.
to shape and pass the necessary laws
at coming session OF the legislature
to provide for all injured employees
ltwould relieve the employers of am
often unjust penalty for am unavoidable
ESQ FAR as the employer was CON
cerneO accident a penalty oftoutimes
severe. AZ the same timo It would as
sure workmon, who are also free from
blame, and who are the victims OF
those accidents which tho care and
caution of mankind cannot prevent Of
the means Of living, without becoming
a burden TO relatives objects Of chart
ty or a charge upon the state
II is q step in the right direction
and, while Il is pretty certain that the
first law upon tho subject will not be
perfect and will require future amend
ment for the proposition Is an en-.
tirely new one it still should be made
the law, given a trial corrected and
perfected, as circumstances and condi-
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