The diamond drill., 1912-01-13
Terms: So per year in Advance
SATURDAY. JANUARY 10, 1912.


State will soon have "a better opportun-
ity 10 become familiar with IL and to
study the proposed bill which accom-
panies the report.
The commi ssion mas recommended |
an optional law, instead OF compul-
sory law such as the Moriarty James
Bill that was introduced in the legis- I
Iature Of 1911. This was undoubtedly
wise In view OF the decision OF the
New York Court OF Appeals declaring
the compulsory law in that state 10 be
unconstitutional. As matter OF fact,
the proposed optional law will DO about
as effective as q compulsory law so far
as employers conducting hazardous OPP
erations are concerned, because the
provision destroying their common law
defences will serve to induce, II not TO
compel them. tn elect to be governed
by ii.
Employees may on the other hand
elect not to be bound by the law by
serving notice to that effect, but In case
they do so, the common law defences,
will as to such employees remain in
full force and effect.
The constitutionality of this plan has
already been approved by the Supreme
Courts Of Massachusetts and Wisconsin.
We understand that in Wisconsin,
where employers having 80 600 or more
employees have elected to come under
the compensation in that State, practi
cally none Of their employees have ser.
we'd notice that they elect not to be
bound by the law We predict that
the laboring men of Michigan wilt
likewise regard such law with favor.
Some of the State papers have sag
gested that the proposed law would be
uuduly burdensome upon employers
Ii will unquestionsbly increase the a
mount which they will have to pay
particularly in some portions OF the
State. where according TO the report OF
the commission employers have hereto
fore-oply made small payments in case
Of injuries. but the schedule OF pay
ments il not materially different from
that adopted in other states. or from
the schedules contained in the bills
discussed at Lansing last winter.
1t is worthy OF strong comment that
the schedule in the proposed bill was
unanimously agreed Go and recommen-
ded by the members OF the commission,
which was composed OF we'll known re-
presentatives OF both employers and
employees. and in view OF the exten.
sive and careful investigation made by
the commission it's recommendation is
entitled 10 great weight.
A most desirable feature of the pro
posed bill il the certainty of payment
which il gives TO employees. Only
EMPLOYERS of assured solvency and fin
ancial strength will be permitted by
the Industrial Accident Board to carry
these risks alone II any doubt exists,
the employer. in order to secure the
protection OF the law. must take out
liability insurance. or join some EN-
ployers mutual association. thus giving
additional security that the benefits
provided 10y law will be paid.
Or, II employers having at least ten
thousand employees shall request the
Commission Of Insurance to assume
the administration OF these funds. he
is required TO levy and collect assess
ments from employers to pay the com
pensation due taeir employees and
make the distribution. but the Stat,
assumes no responsibility for any pay
ment beyond the iunds collected
In one respect the hill presents new
ana most interesting plan. At preseu
Ohio and Washington have state in.
surance laws Wisconsin. New Jersey
and ether states have compensation
laws which require employers to max
payments direct TO their employees. o
to take ont insurance. Massachusett
has made the organization of an em
ployers association the princIpa
feature Of its laws. But none OF thes
bihNFN uNNo bbihbihoh AhV N'A'Ne
methods OF payment
The Michigan commission declare
that experience has not yet demon
strated that any one of these plans
entitled 10 exclusive consideration an
proposes to give employers st their OF
tion. and subject to the approval OF th
Industrial Accident Board, the priv
ilege OF adopting any one Of these for
methods
IL In certain that suoh law woul
10 some extent operate successfully, an
there is good reason for believing tim
the commission was wise in maxim
it's provisions ss brood and elastic
possible Time and experience wi
demonstrate which OF these methods
...r..t I..t ii l.lo snI il,axa In no ioC0f