New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-05-23
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY.

The report of the Louisiana Employ
srs' Liability Commission, appointet
bv Governor Hall under authority o
Act So of 1912, has been published an'
distributed throughout the State, and
bill, following the ideas of the com
mission. has been prepared for early in
PRODUCTION in the general assembly. lh'
commission was composed of Senators
Burke and Christy, Representatives
Locke. Manion and Roberts, with severa
advisory members" including Harry b
Hewes and Edward ]. Gay, representing
manufacturing enterprises; Robert l.
Lee representing the American Fedora
ton of Labor; Oscar Bush, representing
the Order of Railway Conductors, anu
Herbert w Kaiser, an attorney AM
student of social and economic prob
lens, who acted as secretary. They have
transmitted their report in full to Gov
ernor Hall. together with the text of the
proposed law to cover the subject matter
so far as the state of Louisiana is con-
cerne1.
This law is comprehensive one, pro-
yiding for every sort of emergency
Most important of all, perhaps, is the
setting forth of method whereby EN-
ployer and employee may enter into a
contract, by which both shall be bound,
and whereby the employe shall be able
to collect compensation for injuries re-
ceived without being forced to bring
suit against his employer; it is optional
with the employee and the employe as to
whether or not they shall come under
the provisions of the act. Where an en-
ploye does avail himself of the provi-
sions of the act, and the employer re-
fuses to do so. then the defense trilogy
of assumed risk, fellow servant and
contributory negligence" shall be elimi-
nated-the employer shall not have q
right to set up any of these defenses
in suit for damages as result of per
sonal injury On the other hand. if the
employer elects to operate under the
provisions of the act and the employee
declines to do so, then the employer
shall have a right to any or all of the
three defense pleas mentioned. These
are the broad principles Of the act; in
detail it is worked out with great care.
apparently. and every POSSIBLE con.
tingency is severed.
The compensation feature of the
proposed act provides that for total dis
ability sustained while engaged in any
sort of service, the employee shall re-
eeive half-pay maximum ten dollar,
minimum three dollars q week. during
the period of disability, not to exceed,
however. a total period of three hun
dred weeks, or about six years. For
partial disability, the compensation shall
be half of the difference between the
average earning of the employee before
the accident and the average he is able
to earn thereafter, for . period not ex-
eeeding three hundred weeks. And 20
on, through . list of injuries, great and
small, such ~ half-pay for the loss of
finger or toe during 4 period not exceed
ing twenty weeks. For IN injury caus.
ing death, the employer shall pay to
those dependent upon the employe one
half the average weekly wages for three
hundred weeks.
There are Z great many more details
Of this character set forth but the
above will Be sufficient to give . good
idea Of the general plan which will be-
come effective January l, 1915, If the
bill, - proposed by the commission, 10
enacted into law At the present session
Of the general assembly.