The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-01-18
LABOR PROTESTS
HEARD IN SENATE
Continued from PAGE I

stated that he was committed to the
principle of compulsory state indus.
trial insurance. He could not see
how any adequate remedy could be
provided by law for injured working
men so long as private insurance
companies were permitted to stand
between the employers and employees
in the sediment of claims ?, -
lie advocated the passage Of a bill
that would place direct tax upon
industry, the rate of taxation to be
based upon the hazard Of the occu-
patton, and the number of accidents
that annually occur therein. He held
that the cost Of administration Of an
industrial accident fund by the state
should be borne by the taxpayers and
could be derived from the saving that
would be affected by taking from the
courts the large number of master
and servant cases now being tried
there.
State Insurance Best.
The consensus Of opinion among
lawyers was to the effect that there
were constitutional objections to tho
enactment of a compulsory state in
dustrial insurance system. Mr.. Nc
Even expressed the hope that the
legislature would submit proposed
amendment to the constitution to the
people at the next election for their
ratification, which. if passed, would
enable the legislature to pass laws
providing for compulsory state in
'surance.
Mr.. McEwen recognized that it is
most necessary to receive immediate
relief. He declared that any kind Of a
workingmn's compensation act would
be infinitely much better than the
present system of employers liabil-
ity. He was authorized by the execu-
tive council of the Minnesota State
Federation Of Labor at a meeting
held in Minneapolis on Sunday to
state in it's behalf to the senate COM
mittee that If state insurance could
not be had at this session the State
Federation of Labor would demand Of
the legislature the passage of a COM
pulsory Workingmen's compensation
act such as has been proposed by the
Minnesota State Bar association.
Anything Better Than Present System
II there Is a reasonable fear that
a compulsory measure would not pass
the speaker then said the federation
would be willing to take, for tenn
pcrary relief only, such an elective
act as was now being considered by
the senate committee. He admitted
at the outset that such a bill would
go but short step toward giving ade-
quate relief to injured workmen, but
it would at least offer an improve
ment over the present systm.
Before committing the federation
to an elective act Mr.. McEwen in
sisted that certain fundamental OBJ
jections to the bill now under con-
sideration be removed. He stated
them as follows:
I'VE protest against the provision
which places 20 per cent of the cost
OF insurance under the act upon the
employe. We contend that industry
should bear the full financial bur-
den.
I'VE protest against any discrim-
ination against alien dependents who
reside in other countries. We in
sist that the words "by accident" be
stricken from section of part 2 OF
the bill.
Strike Out Negligence.
1--WE demand that every reference
to negligence be strickn out, and par
t1cularly tn words "willful negli.
gence' unless additional penalty is
placed upon employers for willfu
negligence.
1--WE protest against the provision
which permits of lump sum settle.
ments of claims by agreement of both
parties and demand that lump sum
payments in excess Ct 5000 be unlaw.
full unless the settlement is approved
by the court.
We ask that the maximum amount
of compensation shall be increased
from SO to SIS per week, that the
period for which compensation shall
be made be extended from 800 weeks
to 1913 weeks and that the maximum
payment for death and permanent
disability shall be increased from
$4,000 to $4,000"
Mr.. McEwen made some minor oh
jections to the bill such as increas
ing the compensation the compensa.
ton for orphan and partial depend
ants. He also asked that every pro.
vision In the bill that would tend tt
encourage coercion be eliminated.
After the adjournment Of the sen.
ate committee Mr.. McEwen held q
conference with 3 Of the members
who assured him that the provision
requiring employees to contribute tc
the financial cost of insurance and
the one discriminating against alien
depednants would be stricken out. H,
was also assured that his other OBJ.
Jections would be given the serious
consideration Of the committee.
When the bill shall have been in.
troduced in the senate it will in al
probability be referred to the commit.
tee on labor and an opportunity
will be given to all interested to ex.
press their views on the subject. Il
is believed that tn bill will pass both
houses.
A.