The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-06
Favored by Barre Parties
for Workingmen's Com
pensation Legislation
CO. >wLSORY FEATURE
. LITTLE SUPPORT
=
State Commission Gave the
First Of a Series Of Hear
ings Last Evening

Employers, quarry owners and granite
manufacturers, and employees represent
ing ls labor organizations in Barre and
vicinity came together in the opera house
last night to urge on mutual basis
the need of an adequate elective com
pensation act in Vermont.
The occasion was the first of series
OF hearings which newly created ON
mission appointed by Governor Fletcher
is holding in several OF the larger towns
about the state. As chairman of tie
commission, Lieut.. Gov Frank =. Howe
of Bennington presided and with Alex
ander lronside, prominent local lator
man, Guy ". Bailey OF Essex junction,
secretary of state, and Senator Hale X.
Darling of Chelsea, the other two menl-
bers of the commission, we're seated on
the stage. All participated in the hear
ing. Because Of Barre's peculiar posi-
tion in the industrial lie of the state
III is significant that il shonld have been
selected as the place for the initial hear
ing.
The attendance was not large, per-
haps there were $50 people in the house,
but both OF the larger industries in this
section were represented literally and
the delegated committee Of every trade
and laber organization were also in at
tendance. Manufacturers, quarry own
ers, labor men and members OF the com
mission alike seemed to agree that the
first hearing amply justified Itself. Fer
number of weeks to come, the com
mission viii continue the hearings and
before another session OF the general
assembly it is TO have compensation
bill ready to submit to the legislators
for ratification. To draft a tentative
statute is one of the functions which
the creation Of the commission contem-
plated,
An elective compensation law. moo
eled after the so-caled Blanchard bill,
with a state paid commission, was the
particular instrument of administering
justice to employers and employees adyo-
Gated last night. For the employers,
w. J. M. Jones of Jones Bros, Guy r.
Varnum OF Boutwell,, Milne & Varnum,
and ]. Alfred Healey of the Barre Gran
ite & Quarry Co. were the principal
speakers. James Cruickshank, Daniel y.
Sullivan and John H. Bishop OF the gran,
ite cutters spoke for the employees. al
though it was explained that their views
the sentiment of IL other labor
and to certain extent
they represented all classes of employees
in this district.
The Discussion.
Mr.. Jones reviewed the joint meetings
Of committees from the employers and
the employees on the subject on compen-
sation during the past year and more.
Together they had advocated the Blanch
ard bill with a number of amendments
appended by themselves The speaker
did not delve in the details of the BILL
as he proposed to furnish the commission
with copy before its departure. He
as the joint committee had be-
lieved, that a compulsory law would be
an ill-advised statute in Vermont at the
outset. Progress in compensation leg
islation later might open a way for the
feature. A low compensa
ton law with state-p paid commission
consisting of three members, no two Of
whom would be of the same political
faith he believed, would meet the pres
INT requirements and receive the approx
II Of employers and employees. Then.
too, all cases in dispute should be record
I'd with the commission together with
Ihe final award. If the commissions de-
,isiorf should prove unsatisfactory, the
,ase might 90 to court. He believed
that few cases would ever find their
way into the courts under the act he
proposed. Stating briefly his views, Mr..
Jones summarized, first, that an elective
condensation act should be passed with
, low rate OF compensation, and second,
hat the commission should be paid by
he state. Chairman Howe cited an cleo
i've and compulsory act drafted by
Massachusetts man which could be al
erred to suit the needs of any state.
The views of Mr.. Cruickshank, as set
lown on paper and read by the speak
,r coincided with those of Mr.. Jones.
Both represented the conclusions reached
" the Joint committees, he said. Mr. ,
,ruickshank described the common law
n its relation to the workingman's
hances for recovery for injury as cold
flooded and nhuman. The need of a
ust compensation law is imperative, he
declared Continuing, he asserted that
,ne-half of the industrial workers in
Termont are connected with the gran
te. marble and slate industries and
hat their number receive two-thirds Of
he wages paid in state industries. HI
idn't think the workers should be com
elled to contribute to the support of .
ct
ID. J. Sullivan said he represented Il
ranite cutters and with a joint eommi
ee from other labor organizations he
ad considered no less than p different
bills. He was inclined to
avor the Ohio bill. In 10000 cases
rhch came within the provisions of the
Dhio act he said, only four ever went
o the courts. a ratio which speaks much
or its equity features. Mr. Sullivan
uggested that one member of the pro-
osed state-paid commission be from the
anks of labor, another from the em
lovers and the third neutral person
affiliations with neither.
Secretary of State Bailey asked how