Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-02

that precaution, alone, provides efficient
defence against the conscious or uncon-
scious exaggeratiou of slight injuries,
and safeguards self-reliance. We find
further. however that during such wait
ing period, from the moment he has no.
tice of the accident the employer should
provide first aid and necessary medical
attendance, thus preventing trivial in
iuries from becoming serious disabilities
through ignorance or neglect
we are conscious that the introduce
ton of principles implying systematic
compensation for accidents into our
form of government bristles with diff
culties. We believe, however. that at
the present time, and during the period
which must necessarily preeede the
adoption Of the absolutely satisfactory
system, voluntary action by private en-
ployers Should receive public encourage
ment"
The report closes with this sound ad-
vice: successful legislation throughout
Europe has been preceded by deliberate
and painstakiHg investigation. We are
fortunately able to avail ourselves of the
most practical features of . the old
Worlds labor and experience. But we
should make a start. fpu. ourselves here
and now, providing at once for the ac-
emulation of information which is
basic necessity for intelligent action.
Having determined upon a rational poll
icy of compensation. we believe rapid
progress can be made in giving it appro-
PIRATE legal form, and adapting it to our
customs and institutions. We should act
now and as rapidly as is compatible with
the greatness and completely of the sub
iect and its intimate relation TO the
prosperity of the employers and work
men of our country
/ have made these quotations to show
to Won that the manufacturers are inter-
ested in this form of legislation. be-
lieve the manufacturers of Maine who
nave investigated the matter fairly are
in favor of this measure.
AS there are no American eompen-
sation laws which have been in force
long enough To judge much of their
effect. we can profitabIy consider very
briefly the German and the English
systems which have been in existence
for 80 years and 16 years respectively.
In Germany every employer is COM
PEELED to accept the Workmens Com
pensation Act. Germany is frequent
ly referred to as the country which
best exemplifies state insurance. The
fact is that in Germany, accident i'll
surance is conducted entirely by mu-
tual associations of employers super
yised by the state. Large and small
employers are organized into employ
ers' associations. Each employer on
beginning business is compelled TO
join the association representing his
industry. There are 113 such mutual
industrial associations. Upon these
organizations is placed the RESPONSE
bility of carrying on and administer
ing the compensation system. The
funds are collected by the insurance
associations from their members. They
manage the fund through officers
chosen by themselves, most of whom
serve without pay. The German gov
eminent supervises the fund in much
the same way that our insurance de-
partment in Maine supervises the COM
panies doing business in the state.
For the first Is weeks, the compen-
sation OF injured workmen is paid out
VI SD-tcittu SiChiiFSS IuiiNi NIlISii IL
supported by the employer and en-
ployes jointly, the employer contrib
utirg one third and the employees two
thirds of the cost premiums After IS
weeks, the mutual insurance associa-
tiuns become responsible.
Both the government and the insur-
ance associations have given q great
deal of study to accident prevention,
which has become a science and pro-
fesaion in Germany Disobedience of
rules relating to safety, involves the
infliction of severe penalties on both
the employee and employer Accident
prevention is kept constantly before
tho public before the Legislatures. be-
fore the workmen and the manufac-
turers. Trade schools, with which Ger
many abounds, give special courses to
train accident prevention engineers. In
,'urance rates are gagged according To
the degree of accident prevention prac-
ticed in individual shops; and the
wol kmen and leaders in industrial and
political life. instead of quarreling as
10 where the blame for accidents
should be placed combine and con-
centrate their energies upon an educa-
ticnal and practical accident preven-
ton campaign.
Competent statisticians have deternin-
ed that the German system gives the
workman about 1850 per cent more than
the American common law system, and
consequently the accident insurance
rates are somewhat higher. But the head
of the German advisory board says:
I'VE are not building for one year or for
10 years, we are building for centuries.
Believing in the survival of the fttest'
we are building up a nation fit to win
in international competition. We believe
II is paying proposition for us to spend
more money than other nations for our
iIcapacitated workmen. But please note
that we are spending our money not in
life pensions to disabled workmen, nor
in old age pensions to persons who can
prove that they are paupers. We be-
lieNe such a course would manufacture
paupers and invalids. We spend our mon
ey with the workers in every effort that
is calculated to promote their efficiency
and capacity, to the end that every man
may be producing member instead of a
mere consuming member of society"
The tariff board investigations of labor
costs showed beyond doubt that Germa-
has materially ~