Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-01

said. "NVe pay them for the time they are laid
off by injury Yet would favor the enactment
of a wcrkmen's compensation law because
would knew what my liabilities would be and
would not be put at Che mercy of an unfair law
suit
The other employer, wel-known contractor
and engineer, said:
. "Our firm insures its employees and we fihd
the method satisfactory. The passage Of a cobl-
pensation law would simply be substituting obe
method for another so far as our expenses are
concerned The advantage to us would be that
such a law would stop personal injury suitt,
would put an end to the practice of some unscru,
pulous attorneys who work up damage cases,
and would systematic the handling of injuries
involved in industry"
On top of frpelyexpressed local desire for
such law. there came in the last mail from the
coast statement OF how the compensation law
is working out in Wisconsin. The following
comment from the Outlook of March % is sex
aetly in point apd may well be needed by the
Hawaiian legislators:
One by one the sixteen states that have put work
mems compensation to the test in the last three
years giving their verdicts. year and half
ago called attention to the Wisconsin law and to
the decision by Chief Justice Winsow upholding the
4, legal, economic and humanitarian principles in
yolved. There are. about ninety thousand en-
poyes under the act-workmen whose employers
have voluntarily agreed to settle their damage suits
according schedule of rates fixed by the indus
trial commission paying for all injury except that
resulting from willful negligence the part Of the
workman. Those employers who do not agree,
sfortsightedly preferring to settle injury cases in
the law courts as the past only one defense
where formerly they had three-that is, the negli-
gence of the injured In Wisconsin, as in other
states In which compensation laws in force the
careessness of a fellow-servant longer cheat
= the injured out of his compensation. Neither
he be said to have voluntarily assumed the risk
OF his occupation for is generally recognized that
the earning of daily bread is matter of necessity
in which the average worker must obtain such en-
ployment is available, and in that employment he
has no control over the risks involved. The abro-
cation of these timeworn defenses of the employer
marks long step toward the newer ideal of justice
whereby an industry is made to bear its own bur-
dens. and bear them in such way that relief is inn
mediate, definite and adequate. The fact that few
cases are brought before the industrial commission
because disagreement of parties of the unwil
lingness of either to abide by the act agreed,
speaks well for its fairness. A study of the awards
made in. thefew that the commission has been
called upon to decide leaves doubt as to the benz
efits to the workman. Moreover, all employers re-
port that their men "seem satisfied with the act
Perhaps the highest tribute to from employ
er was thatof street railway company employing
four thousand Its agent said sYou have made s.
it possible for us to dismiss lawyers. Though
paying heavy damages for injuries, we regard the
compensation act one of the greatest improve
ments ever made in wisconsin law" A brewing
company's treasurer writes. "The law places us in s.
such position that in any where we at all
liable we shall not be pestered by attorneys" And
the representative of a granite company expresses
5 his approval of the law both to costs and as to
prompt remuneration of employees. His letter
throws light upon the additional point of prevention
when he says: The trend of the law will be to-
ward the elimination of the careless, reckless and
inefficient workman which, of course, will raise the ~
standard of labor, with increased compensation as
employers will not take chances with cheap, 1neff1-
cient help when the certainty of liability is KNOWN
Such is the evidence of Wisconsin, which has, given
workman's compensation good trial. The states
that are now considering similar laws should take
note of this evidence of success.
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