Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-25
HOLD DEBATE OYER
COMPENSATION ACT
F. N. Coffey and Louis Y. Guye Dis
ouss II Before Central Park
League.
LABOR MEMS VIEWS DIFFER
Former, Representing state Fedora
tien, Believes IL 20 Ne Lone step
in Advance for working
men of Nebraska.

The workmen's compensation law
passed by the last legislature and now
before the voters on referendum petit
ton, was debated last night before the
Central Park Social and civic league at
Central Park school. Forty-second and
Grand avenue Frank NJ Coffey, secre-
tary-treasurer Of the state Federation OF
Labor which has declared In favor OF the
law, presented Its merits and argued for
its endorsement at the polls. Louis v.
Guye. representing the Omaha and South
Omaha Central Labor unions. which are
on record AGAINST the law. tried to show
that Il ought not to be adopted by pop
ular vote.
Many questions were asked OF the two
speakers, after the debate was closed
and as explanations progressed, there
seemed TO be more and more sentiment
among the auditors for putting the law
into full force for the relief Of work
ing men.
saves Court Procedure.
at offers much needes fe1ief from the
present necessity of fighting case
through several courts" said Mr.. coffey
in presenting the provisions OF the law.
And the relief offered IL In greater
amounts than now obtainable under the
general law.
III II was not for the opposition OF per-
sonal injury lawyers. the new eompensa-
tion law would hardly De opposed at all.
They are the fellows who are fighting
against the adoption OF the law, and are
financing the opposition campaign. 1t Is
positively known that personal injury
lawyers directed the circulation Of. petit
tiorB for referendum vote, after the
Legislature passed the law. and II II had
mt lbeen for their activity, the law would
now bs in effect In Nebraska.
AnImus Br.hind OpponitioR.
MANY personal injury lawyers signed
the petitions. and It Is also a fact that
many OF the signatures are unreadsble
in the handwriting OF personal injury
lawyers. and most probably faxed l am
convinced that the advertising campaign
now being wRged against the law II being
financed not by any laboring men, or
by the Central Labor unions. but by these
same personal injury lawyers, who hate
to see any pie slipping from their
fingers ("
In explaining the new law. Mr.. Coffey
showed that II will allow the injured
workman the option OF coming under the
compensation provisions. or taking the
matter into court, a. is now done. 80
that he will not lose his right OF court
trial. II the compensation arrangement
does not suit him. The state Federation
Of Labor man declared the new law will
wipe out the old fellow servant ruls
OF law. by, which many employers now
manage to dodge liability for accidental
injuries sustained by employees while a.
work. He asserted that at present nin'
out OF ten injured employees have 70 q
without compensation. whereas thsy ar
Offered eompensatlon for All injuries un
dor the proposed lava - 81
Resalt of Litigation.
Mr.. coffey showed that during the yea
1919 in Douglas county out OF twenty
two death claims I'M court five failed y
recover a cent Under the present law
About $4,000 in death judgments wer'
rendered by tIie courts. an avesAge for I
Human life OF only si.6Ss The hlshes
Valuation for Z lie was. $500 the loves
only 500. and the following were sampl'
allowahces made Ia court on dealt
clAirnss ..,.
A locornofiVe enqineer i. 49,. 81 O09 o