Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-11-19
MANUFACTURERSTO
HAYETNSURANCECO
Heads of Nebraska Factories Meet
ing Here Subscribing for Mutual
Organization.
PRESIDENT TowLE SPEAKS
Regards Compensation BiII n Good
Piece of begisIatiOn-sees In
dependence for Americans
a. Result of the War.

/ Nebraska manufacturers who have gath
cred here for the two-day convention OF
their association are subscribing their
names to a movement for the organiza-
| ton of a mutual liability insurance com
pany TO cover losses incurred by the
manufacturers through the workmen's
| compensation law which requires them to
pay stipulated amounts TO employees hurt
while on duty. 1t is expected that they
will have the necessary number Of sig
! natures perhaps before the first day is
over. Under the law they are authorized
to organize a mutual liability company
to carry the compensation risks OF the
manufacturers as soon as they get the
signatures OF a group of manufacturers
representing in the aggregate 5000 en-
ployes or more.
TOwIe Makes Address.
Reports of officers have been heard and
President c. b. Towle of Lincoln gave
his address. He praised the ASSOCIATION
for the part It took IN the passage OF the
workmens compensation law and de-
clared Its passage is among the impor-
tant events In our history II is one of
the best and most progressive pieces of
legislation on the statute books, and will
be so recognized by employer and en-
ploye as soon as il has had fair trial"
Urges Mutual Organization.
our great work should now be the
organization OF mutual insurance COM
Tany for the proper protection of our
members Insurance rates now become
an important consideration. Rates will
depend on the risk. The employer who
| Ga faQnaplea mn NIL a.,
shape of reduced rates the benefit he
deserves. The use II safety appliances
and record showing n low percentage
of accidents will Justly cntitlc one man
to a lower rate of insurance than one
who neglects TO take proper precautions
Accidents in many places have been re-
duced from 20 to so per cent under a com
pensation law and insurance rates have
followed this trend. In Michigan rates
have been reduced 80 Per cent in the
last three months In Illinois fully -
per cent. partly due to a better knowl-
edge of the costs by the insurance com-
panies, but largely on account of the de-
crease in accidents"
Notes Commercial Independence.
President Towle spoke also OF the COM
merclal Independence that is developing
in the United states us result OF the
European war which places America
every day in the position of having to
do without something they have hitherto
been getting from abroad, when they
could just as we'll have been manufac-
turing IL at home.
He gave II as his opinion that Nebras-
kans are now to have a better legisla-
ture than they have had usually, and a
governor who is a business man.
II trust the compensation act, at least,
will not be tampered with until 1t is
given fair trial. he said. Minimum
wage legislation will, of course. come up
as 1t always does. in spite OF the eco
nomic fallacy that is back of IL The
fact that a minimum wage would also
likely be the maximum wage seems to
have escaped the notice OF most OF those
who are enthusiastic supporters of a
minimum wage"