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

SOLUTION IN STATE INSURANCE.
The legislature under consideration three pro-
posed measures for workingmens compensation and
they represent the three great thoughts this i'm
portant question.
Senator Swanson of Anoka county has introduced a
bill for compulsory insurance 1t is broad and
comprehensive designed to eliminate every
of waste that obtains under the present sys-
tem it is patterned somewhat after the Washington
law, and provides that injured workingmen shall re-
compensation the entire period Of their dis
ability
The passage of this bill with number of amend
proposed by labor which at this writing
remote. will do to solve the problem of working
compensation than other scheme so far pro-
posed in this state.
The Minnesota State Bar associations bill is
pusory 1t repeats the present law and pro-
vides for limited compensation. The longest period
of time for which payment is provided is five years.
The third bill, and the that seems to have the
largest support in the legislature is based 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 workingmens compensation employers
liability The longest period of time for which payment
will made in the elective bill is six in OF
death and eight years of total permanent dis
ability
Ordinarily the legislature of Minnesota would have
right to enact law compelling employer to pay
compensation to his injured workmen unless the &C
cdent the result of the fault of the employer This
exactly the view of the New York Court of Appeals
However, it is generally believed that the increased
hazard of modern industry, through which large
of workingmen annually killed crippled has
created great social problem and it held that the
under of it's police power the right
provide for automatic scheme of compensation
for all injured workmen, irrespective of the question
of fault prevent ndustrys cripples from becoming
objects of public private charity.
Only one of the three bills being considered by the
legislature approaches the solution of the question
Any workingmens 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 become of injured labor
after compensation shall have sopped? 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 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 other dependents during
the entire period of their dependency BY saving the
waste that obtains industry will be obliged
to carry such heavy financial load, the laborer
will be assured of just and certain payment to be
guaranteed by the solvency of the state.
The fees paid to personal injury attorneys and
the premiums collected by employers liability COM
jpanies will all be turned into state fund.- and on
every dollar paid in 100 cents will paid back to
injured workmen The state will bear the cost of the
administration of the fund and the of the
law from the money that is now being expended in
courts in the trial of master and servant cases.
Size this question from every angle; approach
dt from every standpoint and the honest student of
the problem will arrive the one conclusion that
state insurance offers the only sound, just economic
and satisfactory solution.