The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-01-14
Ex-president of Springfield,
O. Commercial Club Spoke
Before Local Organization
Last Evening.
PROGRESSIVE LAWS
TO BRING REMEDY
Declared Commercial Clubs
Should Take Matter Up
First Business Session of
the Year Was Held.

William Stackhouse, ex-president of
the Springfield, Ohio, Commercial club
and an authority on workmen's COM
pensation and insurance, addressed
the members of the Richmond Com
mercial club on that subject last night
at their first meeting of the new year.
In case of accidents in factories
where employees are injured whether
through carelessness or that of their
employers the amount to be paid the
victim of the accident is very hard
matter to settle according to Mr.. Stack
house. Through corrupt legislation
politicians have had bills enacted
which are very favorable to the en-
ploye, but unfair to the employer.
This was done because there are many
more employees than employers" said
Mr.. Stackhouse.
Though acts have been passed COM
pelling factory owners to provide as
near as possible every kind of SAT-
ETY. device, reducing the number of
accidents, the number is yet too large.
Fatalities were formerly regulated
by placing the blame on either the in
tjured man or the employer This was
not satisfactory and flfty-fve per cent
of the accidents could not be blamed
to any one and for eighty per cent of
tho accidents no redress was given to
the victim.
Legislation Wanted.
Progressive legislation should be
enacted regulating where the burden
!of the expense of maintaining work,
mans compensation fund should be
placed. AS this is an industrial prob
lem those benefited by industrial life
should be the contributors. The bur,
den of the expense should be divided
,proportionally between the employer
employe and the public. The public
ishould stand the cost of having the or
rdinance established, the employer fur
,nish not more than seventy-five pei
cent of the fund and the employe fur
nish not less than twenty-five per cen,
iof the fund
The employe who disregards the
Nlse of the safety device should lose
Eifty per cnt Of his compensation and
the employer who does not provide the
lsafety device should be compelled tc
lpay a similar abount above what he
would ordinarily be compelled to pay
"The state should have charge OF
distributing the premiums and make
the fund selfsustaining. There would
be no scheming lawyers nor court
benefited and his employer would be
satisfied"
Mr. Stackhouse said there probably
would be bills introduced at the pres
cent session of the state legislature
and the Commercial club should go OF
record as being in favor of the meas
ure.
Business Session.
Previous to Mr.. Stackhouse's ad
dress a short business session wa!
held. Walter Bates, chairman of the
Russian treaty committee, reported
that the treaty between Russia and the
United States which provided for reci
procity between the two countries OIL
certain commodities which expired De
cember 81. 1912. had been renewed in
definitely though there was no assur
would be continped.
George e. Seidel reported that ths
work of the committee in charge of es
tablishing permanent organization
to take charge of the May Musica
Festival and all other similar enter
tainments in this city was progressin.
rapidly and the success of the organi
zation was assured. 1t was proposed
that 100 members of the organization
be solicited at SO each. Mr.. Seidel re
ported that the committee would hav,
no trouble in securing twice that mum
ber.
Will w. Keller, Jonas Gaar and VIM
D. Foulke, the committee appointed I,
CONTINUED on Page Eight