Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-19
COMPENSATION AFTER INJURY
Hearing Conducted by Cover
nOr's Commission
Representative of Labor Unions Fnv-
orcd $1,000 Limit for Death and
30 per Cent. Basis for seri-
Gus Accidents.

A hearing on the subject OF worlSmen's
commentator following injury received
during employment was held ut tho city
hall Thursday by the commission appoint
ed by the governor to Investigate that
subject and report a bill to the next scs-
sion of the Legislature. This commission.
which was created In accordance with a
resolution passed last session, came to
Burlington to get the opinion OF the en-
ploye and employers of labor about the
general proposition of workmen's COM
pensation following injury and about tho
various details to be Incorporated into a
measure to be framed along these lines
No large employer OF labor was pres
ent, although the compensation plan Ia
devised quite as much out OF fairness
to the employer as out OF justice to the
worker. Although some very well-inform-
ed representatives of the labor unions
were present. the severe weather prob
ably kept at home many who would nat
urally have been at the hearing. and
prevented any great attendance
Two only OF the commissioners, lieut.
enant- Governor Frank Il. Howe and
Secretary of State Guy w. Bailey. were
able to be present. the third member,
Hale x. Darling. being prevented by
illness. Mr. Howe opened the meeting
with a very fair statement of the sub
ject Eugene Greemore of Winooslsi, a
painter, represented organized labor at
the hearing. Mr.. Greemore outlined IN
very clear fashion what the unions would
want. He said he favored an elective
system, under the direction Of COM
mission, one Of the three members Of
which should be chosen from tho ranks
of organized labor. He favored a 5000
limit for death and the so-called 80 per
cent. basis for accidents which would
mcapacitate man for work. He also
advocated some system of weekly pay
mcnts rather than n lump sum given
the injured employee.
Arthur J. Cayo was called upon at the
suggestion Of Mr. Bailey and made a
brief speech, In the course OF which he
referred to the Blanchard bill. which was
killed at the last session of the Legis-
lature in spite of the fact that a great
number of the heads of the largest in
dustr1al concerns appeared before the
legislative committee to add their en-
dorsement of it to that of the labor
unions.
Professor G. G. Groat was called upon
by the chairman and made a thorough
and clear analysis of the general sub
Ject. This speaker also suggested many
practical points to be considered in draw
Ing such a bill. He gave a great amount
or information. and made the principles
upon which such legislation should pro-
coed stand out clearly
A speech heartily endorsing the general
principle of such legislation and refer
ring particularly to the New Jersey COM
pensation bill was made by Mayor James
e. Burke. Mayor Burke said also that he
thought municipal employees ought to
come in under this act just as much ms
the employees Of anyone else. Others who
spoke were George A. Armstrong Of the
carpenters union, Joseph Shepard OF the
BARRIERS union, and Mr. Conf of the
teamsters union.