Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-07

state. What this word "equitably'
means in this connection may be q
little uncertain, and to my mind 1t is
your duty to define 1t. in case you
provide for the issue Of any such
bonds. 1t Is my idea that the people
of the state expect 1t to be expended
In the different counties in proportion
to the valuation Of such counties.
With the large area Of the state and
the great mileage we have in the
highways, and our small valuation
the question OF the expense of i'm
provement Of highways becomes vital
The cost of improving highways
may mean $1,000 mile, or less, and
It may mean SO, 900 a mile or more
or in other words. highways may be
improved by constructing what is
known as gravel roads or macadam
roads or concrete pavements, or by a
number of other different methods OF
construction.
No one who rides over the roads o!
the state of Maine can fail to see the
Improvement that has already been
made with the little money that has
been expended, and we can all see
what vast improvement can be made
by some very simple method Of opera
ton.
The question Of permanent i'm
provement to my mind Is very largely
the work OF an engineer, and I be-
lieye that the first and most import
ant thing In connection with our high
way improvement is to provide by
law for the extension of the engin-
eering force in the different towns and
cities OF the state, and have these
engineers charged with the responsi-
bility of modern and correct construc-
ton of highways. II you will con-
slider that the sum of money which
has been spent on the highways OF
Maine during the last twenty years is
probably not less than $25, 900, 200
and then consider how much better
the highways are today than they
were at the beginning Of that period
and what they might have been II
this $25, ZOO, 900 had been spent ac-
cording to the plans and advice OF
competent engineers. regarding care
fully the questions Of drainage. and
the kind Of material used, you will
appreciate what an enormous waste OF
money there has been in this connec-
ton. In many towns the highway
work has been controlled by politi-
cal faction, whose object was to work
with men and teams on the road ma
chine. Now, is 1t not time that we
stopped the old method and adopted
new ones?
The question of building new high
ways is important, but the question
of taking care Of them, after they are
built, Is not only important, but It Ia
the greatest economic question in con-
nection with highway construction.
While | have no desire to take road
building or repairing away from the
municipalities, yet do want them to
have the assistance Of more and bet
ter engineering. I do not think that
any money should be paid by the state
treasurer to any municipality until
there is a guaranty by law that II
shall be expended for the best high
way construction known to modern
seience. BY best. mean the most
economical and suitable for the dif-
Ierent localities with regard to use to
which the road is to be put-and with
some kind OF a legal guaranty that
1t will be properly cared for after II
Is built.
Workmen's Compensation Law
We now have nearly 80. 900 wage
earners in the manufacturing plants
OF the state. Under the rules OF the
common law now In force In this
state, the employer is bound to pro-
vide reasonably safe place in which
to work, reasonably safe tools and
machinery, to be reasonably careiu!
In hiring competent fellow workmen,
and to make proper rules for doing
work. Under modern conditions these
rules work much hardship and In
justice to the wage Garner. Placing
the liability for accident upon the en-
ployer only in cases where his negli-
gence is established, under these
rules, leaves the employe in hazard
Gus and uncertain condition as to
maintenance and support when in
jured. facing the risk OF those de-
pendent upon him becoming paupers
in case Of his death or disability from
accident. These rules OF the COM
mon law may have been well enough
in former times to govern relations
between a master and few servants
but under modern manufacturing con
ditions when hundreds and ever
thousands Of men are employed under
one management, they can but re-
suit in great injustice. In place oI
the common law during the pas,
twenty-five years nearly all the coun-
tries of Europe have adopted Other
rules for workmen's compensation, ir
case of injury or death from acci'
dent, and during the past decade
many states OF our union have fol-
flowed their example.
The employer has used liability in
surance to protect himself, and ex-
perience shows that less than so per.
cent Of the amount OF premiums pait
has gone to the injured, and from thi:
sum at least fourth should be de-
Quoted for legal expenses. Also
any benefits thus derived are through
litigation and are long withheld from
the injured. The greatest prejudice
hostility, and many times hatred be.
tween employer and employe, is th'
most fruitful and common result o
such litigation. That we have out
grown this system In Maine canno
be denied, and the wage Garner ant
all other fair minded citizens, as 4
seems to me, demand change; ant
such changes have been found in 9th
or states to meet with the general ap'
proval Of the employers.
Workmen's compensation laws ar,
based upon what may properly b'
called industrial insurance, that IL, {