Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-07
The Workman's Compensation Act.

The Workman's Compensation Act.
The Workmans Compensation Ac'
| is now in the hands of commlttet
of conference composed of Representa-
| tives Irving. Mooers and Dunbar, ane
Senators Murphy, Stearns and wing
| While the Legislative progress of this
bill has not been spectacular at any
| stage. vet ID notable contest has beer
waged, an9 there is every reason T.
| believe that the friends Of the meas
| ure, in the face of much prejudice and
| misunderstanding, and some misrep-
resentatioH will win out They have
put uB n splendid fight for this most
Just, humane, and sanely progressive
measure The Portland Sunday Press
comments editarially upon this dill as
follows:
THAT the principle of the work
mems compensation bin is right is ad :
nitted by practically everyone. 1t has
been approved by both political par
ties and the people of this State ex-
pect, and have a right TO expect that
a law embracing these principles will
be passed. The measure that was re-
ported to the Legislature from the
committee failed OF passage for two
reasons. 1t met with opposition from
the Democrats who are not necessarily
opposed to the bill but who desire to
embarrass the Republicans. 1t also
met with opposition from the small!
manufacturers and lumbermen who
assert that the bill imposes hardships
upon them The leaders of the Re-
publican party in both branches OF the
Legislature have done all that they
could To pass the bill and that they
have not succeeded has been no fault
of theirs This the representatives. OF
the labor organizations realize. But
while the committee measure has met
with disapproval in the House, that
is no reason why we should not have
a workingmen's compensation act.
Those who are urging the bill nave
signified a Willingness to exempt the
lumbermen from the provisions of the
act and also those manufacturers VINO
employ five persons or less. with
these concessions made and possibly
some others of minor Importance there
would seem to be no reason why III"
bill should not receive passage ana
we believe that it will.
In principle, at least, if not spe-
officially, the platforms of the Repub-
iiean. Democratic and Progressive
parties, have declared for this law
Governor Haines strongly urged it in
his message. Some five thousand sign
ers of petitions have demanded it's
enactment. The conferees now engag-
ed in adjusting the differences OF the
Senate and House are broad guaged
men. All these things lead us to
share the belief of the Press that the
bin will receive a passage. The en-
actment of such measure was one
of the really great tasks confided to
this Legislature. May the servants OF
the people not be found wanting at
|'this critical juncture.
THE draft nov. under consideration
(Senatc Document No. $3.50 is a COM
promise between two bills previously
introduced, one in the Senate the 9TH
er in the House. The synopsis ana
comments accompanying the original
Senate bill (Senate Document No. 1859
-. tho accnpfial fantnrac very clear
| ~, and we reproduce them here:
During the past 40 years workmen'
compensation laws have replaced EN-
ployers liability laws in most enlight-
ened countries. This is true of nearly
all European countries, most OF tllt
self governing English colonies and Il
of the American states.
These laws provide moderate ane
fixed compensation for workmen in
| jured in the course of their employ
ment, without regard to the negligence
| oe any person.
The theory upon which these law:
| rest is that the loss of life and limf
caused Ly industrial accidents should
be borne by the industry of which the.
| are an inevitable incident.
| The accompanying draft is not pre-
cisely like that of any country or state
but includes the best and most hu
| inane features of several such laws.
This draft embodies the followins
important features:
/ 1t provides compensat ton for all EN-
ployes except farm laborers, domesti
servants and persons who are not en-
| pIoyed in the course of the employer.
ordinary business. In this respect tn
draft is the same as the Massachusetts
law and that of several other states.
The compensation which it insure
is to be paid in weekly payments an
not in a lump sum. This feature j
found in nearly all compensation laws
| Section A. which substantially EN-
bodies provisions Of the Massachusetts
law, establishes rules for determining
the compensation which an injure
workman may, be entitled to.
The administration of law, includin
determination of amount of compensa
ton to which any injured workman
lent:tied, is left with an Industrial Ac
/, cident Commission. The delays and eA