The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-02-08
SOLUTION IN STATE INSURANCE.

SOLUTION IN STATE INSURANCE.
The legislature has under consideration three pro-
posed measures for workingmens compensation and
they represent three great thoughts this i'm
portant question.
Senator Swanson of Anoka county has introduced
bill compulsory state insurance. 1t is broad and
comprehensive designed to eliminate every
element waste that obtains under the present sys
TEN; it is patterned somewhat after the Washington
law and provides that injured workngmen shall re-
ceive compensation for the entire period Of their dis
ability.
The passage of this bill with number of amend
ments proposed by labor, which at this writing seems
remote will do to solve the problem of working
mems compensation than any other scheme far
posed in this state
The Minnesota State Bar associations bill is a
pulsory 1t repeats the present law and pro-
vides limited compensation. The longest period
of time for which payment is provided is five years.
The third bill, and the one that seems to have the
largest support in the legislature, is based upon the
elective plan and proposed by the Minnesota EN-
ployers' association. If this bill becomes law employ
and employees must elect whether or not they will
come under workingmen's compensation or employers
liability. The longest period of time for which payment
will in the elective bill is six years in of
and eight years in of total permanent dis
ability.
Ordinarily the legislature of Minnesota would have
right to enact law competing an employer TO Pay
compensation to his injured workmen unless the ac-
cident was the result of the employer. This
exactly the view of the New York Court of Appeals
However, is generally believed that the increased
hazard of modern industry through which large army
of workingmen annually killed crippled, has
created great social problem, and it is held that the
under of it's police the right
to provide for an automatic scheme of compensation
for all injured workmen irrespective of the question
fault, prevent industry's crppes from becoming
objects of public private charity
Only one of three bills being considered by the
legislature approaches the solution of the question.
Any workingmen's compensation act that only permits
of payment for period of five eight years to work.
who totally and permanently disabled offers but
temporary relief. What is to become of injured labor
after compensation shall have stopped? Will they
mot then be thrown society to be cared for by
public private charity? In but short time will
have the same problem as have today in a very
much aggravated form staring in the face.
The virtue in state insurance is that it will provide
for life compensation for the totally and permanently
disabled and for widows and other dependents during
the entire period of their dependency By saving the
waste that obtains industry will not be obliged
to carry such heavy financial load, and the laborer
will be assured of just and certain payment be
guaranteed by the solvency of the state
The fees paid to personal injury attorneys and
the premiums collected by employers liability COM
panies will all be turned into state fund, and on
dollar paid in, 100 cents will be paid back to
injured workmen The state will the cost of the
administration of the fund the Of the
law from the money that is being expended in
courts in the trial of master and servant cases.
Size up this question from every angle; approach
it from standpoint, and the honest student of
the problem will arrive at the one conclusion that
insurance offers the only sound just economic
and satisfactory solution.