New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-13
EMPLOYERS ATTACK BILL
Murtaugh- Jackson Measure IN
adequate. Says Committee.
OBJECTS TO COMMISSION
Welfare of Workingmen Militat-
ed Against and Use of Safety
Devices Jeopardized.
|BJECTS TO COMMISSION

\ severe attack on the Murtaugh-Jack-
son bill now before the Legislature, when
will establish system of state insurance
for workingmen. If passed was issued yes
terday by a committee Of the employers
Of labor. headed by William y. BALDWIN,
president II the Otis Elevator Company.
The committee acted in accordance with
4 resolution adopted az meeting IN Ne"
York on Monday. which directed II To
call the attention OF all employers OF
labor i'm the state 20 the workmcn's com
pcnsation bills now pending in Albany.
While declaring that il is earnestly de-
srous II securing good wOrkmen com
pcnsation law. the committee holds that
the INSTRUMENTATION bill is not only
against the interests OF every employer
i'm the state. but Will initiate against the
welfare al tho workingmen II ~ led 10
tho first conclusion by the conviction That
the bill does not appear to apply UNIFORM
Is to all classes of Industrial employment
and even whore n does apply, still leaves
tine employer subject. under certain un-
reasonable conditions to a suit for dam
ages at the option of the injured work
man.
Among other objections which the COM
mittcc finds 10 this measure is that IT
creates a state commission of industrial
accident awards with almost unlimited
power 10 fix assessments. collect the funds
and also dlsburse them; that II grants
the employer no right 90 be- heard before
this commission. and gives him no appeal
from ite decisions. mat il places the
commission between the employer and the
emplove and that II allows the employer
who elects 90 work under il no means y
controlling the expense involved. making
him absolutely subject to the assessments
of the commission.
FINALLY. the committee holds. tine con-
scicntious employers who tgy TO safeguard
their worklnen Will bc compelled To bear
ID material part Of the expense caused by
their associates who are less considcrate
iu these respects.
The terms Of the bill the committee be-
Hev,s. arc 80 severe that many employ
cas- Will refuse 10 operate under 1t. thus
remaining subject to the former system
OF damage suits in an aggravated form.
Not only viii this BE- contrary Ia the in
tercsts of the workiuemen. but the opera
ton II the measure viii tend TO discour-
age. rather than encourage the introduce
tIou OF safety devices I'm tho opinion Of
the committee. Another objection from
the workmcn's point Ok view. according
TO- the employers. Is that the bill leaves
many classes OF workers boo hazardous
Industries without relief under It's provi-
sious.
The report of the committ., does not 20
into the details of the McCIcIiamd-Es-
quiroi and the Foley-W Walker bills. in
dorsed by the National civic Federation
and the state Insurance Department. re-
spectively. but states that one of them.
properly amended. should nave the sup
port of the employers of labor. IL advises
the employers Of labor of the state TO
stand for measure which will permit
the employer To- pay his employees direct
under suitable safeguard. 20 insure his
risk or 10 contribute 20 state fund.
The members OF the committee who
signed the report. other than Mr.. Bald
win were Waldo II Marshall. president
OF the American Locomotive COMPANY;
otto NJ Eiditz. president of the Build
iug Trades Employers Association:
George j. wis. of Charles T. Wills, M
corporatcd; \. X. Loyciidge. OF Arbuckle
Brothers. \. i. Post, OF Post a McCord;
Franklin Remington. of the Foundation
Company: Hugh Getty. OF Hugh Getty x
CO.. Incorporated; Wilbur g. Fisk. vice.
president Of the Hudson a Manhattan
Railroad Company; g. 6. Norman. prcs-
dent of the Manhattan Fireproof Door
Company; Alexander &. humphreys.
president OF the Buffalo Gas Company:
Frank v Whiting. of the New York Cen
trail Lines; Richard Moller, OF Sloane a
Aloller. Incorporated, and G. J. Kelly. of
be Pdoh a Kelly.