Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-21
urges
german PLAN
COMPENSATION
George x. Vending Gives De-
tails of Workmen's Compen-
Sation Legislation

Company, ana now III TINS CITY, Is re-
garded as one Of the eountry's experts
in Workmen's compensation and EN-
pPloyers' liability insurance, and with
this question before the present Les
islatuFe, an address delivered by him
before the National Lumber Manufac-
Ftprers' association is of unusual inter
est
Mr.. Vending strongly opposes the
American plan, and employers ha-
perimentar and as strongly adyo-
Gates the German plan. In his adj
dress he Went into both plans thor
toughly. saying in part:
The German government has insti-
tuted q process by which employers
and employees administer their acci-
dent insurance fund, which in our
country could be administered by an
insurance commission which should
have authority to rate each hazard Of
every nature and character known to
experience, to establish uniform com
pensation for the injuries sustained.
For example, the employe is a work
man operating machinist's lathe,
and the. insurance rate is fixed at Y
sof / per cent on the monthly pay roll;
thus, If the wage is 81 q day, equals
for %. days $780,. Y of l per cent
equals so cents a month. The en-
pleye pays onefourth as much, equals
l2h cents a month. Fund RENTED
monthly to the state treasurer for one
mans wage, including employers
share, 62ls cents q month.
The fund thus created is remitted
to the state treasurer monthly from
all the industries in the state. 1t il
beyond the control of corporations.
firms and individuals. and is useful
tonly in case of injury; the employe
does not look to the employer, but
both employe and employer look to
the solvent fund for relief when the
workman is injured 1.-The time of his
greatest need.
Classification Of Risks.
AN kinds of work have been CLASH
flied and rated about 10 per cent.
above actual needs, subject to such an
nual change in ratings as may be
found necessary by experience, and
the burden is thus placed upon both
the employer and employee in a man
ner so just and equitable-that the sys-
tenn is gladly welcomed by both. 1t
provides the cheapest possible cost of
Industrial accident insurance for the
workman, encourages both employer
and employe TO strive for the greatest
safety In the Workshop, thereby re-
'ducing the cost of insurance to both
employer and employe to the lowest
minimum and making for the maxi,
mum of efficiency, and enabling both
workman and employer to operate in
that intimate harmony so necessary
to success. What is the argument?
What is the proof? And what are the
answers?
Causes of Accidents
THE experience of the Germans in
iicates that seventeen per cent. plus
of accidents are caused by the care
.leSsness of employers, twenty-nine per
cent plus of accidents are caused by
the carelessness of the employees and
ten per cent plus to the. fault of en-
ployer and employee jointly, and forty.
three per cent plus 10 the hazard OF
the industry.
Hence it follows that if the en-
ployer causes seventeen per cent plus
of the accidents and stands seventy
five per cent of the amount paid into
the fund and the employee causes
Twenty-Five per cent plus of the acct
dents and RENTS through his en-
,ployer one-fourth as much. that the
employer bears a disproportionately
heavier burden than the employee, but
beth have performed an agreed duty
and all is WE'LL When an accident oc-
ours this is what happens
The employer and the employee,
both having contributed to the state
fund as provided by law, the en-
ploye Immediately reports his accident
TO his employer, who acts as the EN-
.ployes. unpaid agent, presents his case
with promptness to the proper official,
asking justice as provided by law; no
attorney appears to take the case on
a contingent fee against the employer,
creating acrimonious relations, as is
unfortunately the case in our country
where employers and employees imme-
diately become enemies. In the Ger
man empire the injured employees and
their employers remain friends to
such an extent that all proper efforts
ere put forth to find such employment
as may. suit the injured workman, and
his service continues when restored
to health. r. go. r. II
'tIn Germany all forms of disability
known to experience are rated and
compensation paid accordingly with
absolute promptness. In the case of
Death the widow receives. SO long as
she remains a widow "a stated sum
monthly, and for each child a stated
sum monthly up to the age of sixteen.
and stated sum for dependent par
ents. .:...:... e.. III. ...* Il
Growth of German Commerce.
This is the method generally and
very briefly stated, as employed by
one of the most wonderful CONNER
cial nations of modern times: the
method solves the problem skillfally.
is workable both commercially and
socially, whereas We, a modern and
highly enlightened people, are still
conducting clumsy experiments in an
effort to work out a great social and
sd. fol