The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-01-14
nl73i t3.:J ann I:hi.2
LAWS ODlA20D
Real Service lie Rs)soIs1 70
New Jersey Workers
FOUGHT BY INSURANCE Hen,
They Threatened to Raise All Their
Rates # Employers Liability Law
Were Passed, but Became Quist at
Hint of State Offering Indemnity.
Sacramento (Cal.) Union.i

When Woodrow Wilson became gOv.
ernor Of New Jersey be found that
wealthy employers had been given the
laws they desired regardless Of the
welfare of Tie thousands Of men. WO.
men ana children on their payroIls.
I'd found that in thu factories Of the
state scores had been killed or maim-
cd fer life and that there was abSo-
lu;cly no provision for the protection
Of the families Of those workinSmen
engaged in hazardous occupations. He
found that the bosses had Ecen carry
Ing out the wishes of the interests.
from which they had obtained cam
paign contributions.
That was the situation in corrupt
New Jersey. where the conditions Of
labor had been n~otorinlsly oppressive
and seemingly hopeless for a genera
ton. But Governor Wilson drter!nin-
ed to change it and with his custom
airy vigor tackled the problem.
Employers Liability Law.
One Of the reforms he effected was
the enactment of a strong eHtp!oTerS
liability law. But TO" this be lad to
fight with the SAME grim an! m
svcrving purpose that had oDEGinHI
thc Gc:an primary election law. .A!!cr
fi!1 bill lad been Introduce! i" the i"G
lSlniurc am hccamN kno"I Hs oGc o.
the governors measures tlir Insurance
companies sent representatives TO tn"
capirol and through them Threatened
rcpriSal. IF you enact such Il law
we'll raise the rates on all insurance
throughout the state. Well pile thrn
up on everybody" they said. Hnt the
bluff didn't work.
Every well. gentlemen. as you
please replied Governor Wilson. but
remember that If you t.. anything Of
that kind 1t may be necessary for us
to establish n system of state iC!S!r
ance." After that the Insurance. CON
panies decided that silence was the
better part Of wisdom.
The employers liability law was
passed. and an apparently fair statute
it IS, essentially fair to the employer
as well rs to the employee. for Wood
row Wilson Is not a d~emagogue who
plays for labor's support He merely
believes in justice to the whole people
within the authority Of his office.
Prevents Long Litigation.
pa l., a, nror.rtln. tbo trItIitv IF on
employer to make compensation for in.
juries sustained by an employee in the
coarse OF employment. 1t establishes
au elective schedule OF payment and
strictly regulates the procedure for de-
tcrminiug the liability and compensa-
ton. II relieves IN employee who is
injured Of the necessity of instituting
suit 10 obtain damages by providing
Il definite schedule covering the differ
cDt Glasses OF injuries and fixing the
employers liability for each.
Employers now regard the law as
fair because under it they can calcu-
late with reasonable certainty what
their maximum liability for any n
year will he instead of leaving this to
be determined By jurors. Employees
are greatly benefited by 1t because In
case Of accident it secures to them
without delay j fixed income at a time
when money Is most needed and be
cause it avoids long drawn out litiga-
ton. with its attendant expense and