The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-15
Tom
Reilly Favors Fed
Grafton Bill
Hearings Before Judiciary Com.
mittee Practically Con-
Guided
Especial to The Farmer>


cally closed, yesterday. 1t was farm
ers' day. The farmers of Connect1-
cut appeared in large numbers and
made it exceedingly plain that they
will not take a compensation bill
which includes them. Congressman
Federation bill
The farmers were out in force, head
ed by representative H. H. Lyman of
M1ddIeheld and they were unanimous
in their opinion that the committee
should not include the agricultural in
tereStS in whatever bill it reports
They cared nothing whatever about
imposing an expense upon any man
ufacturing interest in the state, but
said they did not believe that any
such burden should be put upon
them.
Judge William F. Henney submitted,
in behalf of the Southern New Eng
land Telephone Co., copies of insur-
ance and compensation agreements
now in force with that company, with
the hope that it will afford the COM
mfttee some advantage in reading its
conclusions.
Magnus Alexander of West Lynn
Mass, a member of the Massachusetts
commission. said that, if it is found
advisable to change the basis of form
to a basis of fact, the compensati ton
should be clearly defined for the
workman.
He argued against state managed
insurance, as it might lead to a mon
opo1y and the only people, he said,
who have an extended experience in
this manner are the existing insur-
ance companies, and he did not be-
Heve they should be excluded from
doing this business under this work
mems compensation bill. He argued
that it would be wise to establish a
state managed fund where those who
cannot secure the insurance outside,
or do not care to do so, may insure
their liability. He also favored the
right of employers to insure their own
liabilities among themselves, particu-
Iarly because it makes for a saving
of money.
Morris C. Webster, speaker Of the
Connecticut House of Representatives
said he was opposed to the attitude
of the farmers, as expressed here, for
pensation act should be compulsory
and that it should apply to every
workingman in the State, no matter
by whom he is employed. He then
left a brief with the committee, en-
bodying his ideas.
Andrew F. Gates pointed out the
large number of Insurance companies
in the country and cited the work of
the Aetna and the Travellers in this
city, who pay out $500,0 a year to
the State. He asked that the commit
tee listen to Walter G. Cow1es, who
is the head of the liability department
of the Travellers.
w. G. Sherwood of Easton, repre-
senting the state grange, said the con-
ditions existing between the employer
and the employee on the farm are
closer than between the manufactured
and the employee and that this act
should not apply to the agricultural
interests.
Mr.. Cow1es then addressed the com
nittee and said it has not appeared
that the insurance interest should de-
fend itself. 1t is defended by it's
That state insurance should be used
in Ohio is not to be surprised at, for
there is no insurance company in that
state.
The hearing lasted for one hour
Fifteen minutes of the time had been
Bridgeport, who said that five min
uteS would suffice for him.
Rep. Wilson said, 81 desire to speak
from the standpoint of the small en-
ployer. I am in manufacturing bus
iness which is owned entirely by my
immediate relatives. We believe in
Workmen's compensation. We now
pay $25 under the existing laws, by
way of liability insurance For this
amount an insurance company agrees
to go to the courts and gamble there
over the question, if compensation
shall be paid to anybody injured in
our business or to the dependents OF
ANYBODY who is killed while working
for u.s. This insurance doesn't cost
us anything. We pay it, but we
charge it into the cost of the goods
A workmen compensation law, any
reasonable law, will not cost us any
thing We will pay a little more in
=I1rance premium than we paw now,
and we will charge that premium in
the cost of the goods. Everybody viii
be better off In our family we dom
want to injure workmen and then
leave them to suffer. We want wise
insurance laws, for the protection of
our workers. 1T is cheaper and better
for everybody than the present bar
barous system of legal gambling
Rep Wilson also said: ct hope the
farmers will be excluded from any
bill reported by the committee. The
inclusion Of the farmers means the
defeat of the bill. It has taken man
ufacturerS twenty years to know that
this proposed law is a good thing. The
farmers ought not to be asked to find
that out in the little time they have
had for investigation. I regret that
some men who have favored compen-
sation here have seen fit to address
this committee in terms calculated tC
alarm and disturb the farmer. I hope
the Representative of the farmers in
this House will vote with me for the
Federation bill, and I will vote with
them to keep all farmers out of every
BILL
Rep Wilson said he favored state
insurance, because he believed in in
surance at cost.
FOR DIRECT PRIMARY.