The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-01-27

ly pass into the hands Of those who
are most in need of it.
ut is opposed to the principles of
the brotherhood of man that men who
are gagged in dangerous occupations
should bear all the risk" declared
Judge Cooper. at is matter of pub
lie interest not to burden the state with
the widow and orphan. The public
must pay in the end, and ought to
pay"
Some Features Too Drastic.
Some features of the Potter bill were
possibly too drastic, thought the speak
err, though he had not made a suf-
ticiently close study of the measure
to point out any particular defects He
closed with an earnest plea to help
those made helpless by present indus
trial conditions.
Opposition on the part of railroad
employees was so evident that Senator
Potter, Immediately on the close of
Judge Cooper's address, expressed
willingness to have this class stricken
out entirely from the provisions of the
bill.
w. J. Pack.
W. ]. Pack, who claimed to repre-
sent the working people of Ellisville
and neighboring section, delivered an
impassioned speech against the bill,
declaring it would deny and rob EN-.
ployes OF the greatest right the law
now gives them, instead of providing a
h Up and benefit "With one fell
swoop you brush away the right of the
people who sabor to be heard before
jury Of their peers" he declared
| He questioned the wisdom of allowing
ths legislature to put price on
mans life, limb. or any part of his
body, and declared that the proposed
law would be hedged about by so many
complexities that it could not possibly
rebound to benefit those it was sup
posed to help. Mere "pittances," he
claimed were provided for those injur-
ed or killed, and there was no certain
ty that even this would ever reach the
employe Pack, who is a lawyer, pick
ed flaws in the plan of compensation
and declared that under the law en-
ployers would put in dangerous places
men who. if killed. would leave no one
to be compensated. He criticised the
system provided for examination of
injured men by corporation doctors,
declaring that it was ridiculous to
leave to these "hirelings" the question
of the extent of mans hurt. Evil
full negligence" Pack thought, was
such a vague term, and capable OF so
11any interpretations, that employers
might use to their advantage a statute
framed ostensibly for the benefit of
the employee. Cattle are worth great
deal more than a man injured under
this law" Aside from it's other objec-
tionahle features, the speaker found
the bill unfair in regard to whites and
negroes, and predicted that, because
usually negroes have no dependents
to be found, every available job would
be given to the negro, and the whites
would be at disadvantage.
Attitude Of Employers.
F. G. Wisner, of the Eastman-Gard
ner company, agreed with Judge Coop
er that the law was too drastic. He
thought it should not be the purpose
of any compensation statute to attemp
to fix in cold dollars and cents thu
value of foot, leg or life, but tn
primary motive behind such legisla
ton was to respect modern thought
and ideas. The compensation perio
of the Potter measure, howevers 81
tended over too long a period -
vears). Mr.. Wisner asserted thaSta
average employer is anxious to max
his men satisfied, and, although -
lumber manufacturers have not