The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-11-14
CECIL WIG. E1KroN MARYLAND

State. and in the second place (like
many other laws) it is not sufficiently
definite and lucid at all times to be
easily defined in its application. We
cannot hope, within the limits of an
editorial, to review and interpret this
very far-reaching statute. We can,
however, correct some popular mis-.
apprehensions. For instance, the Cecil
Democrat recently stated that "no
employer, no matter how small, is
exempt from the law, e:c."
Now this is not accurate at all. The
only employers and occupations which
come under the operation of the law
are those which are enumerated under
it's long schedule of "extra-hazardous
occupations" The only way for any
particular employer to discover whe-
Their or not he is affected by the law is
to consult this schedule and see. In
the second place, we find that many OF
our people Through Jealous represen-
tatives or otherwise) are being I'M
pressed with the belief that their only
recourse under the circumstances is
insurance in some Casualty Company.
We are not going to be drawn into any
controversy over this phase of the
matter, but we suggest that employ
ers who find they must insure under
the law would do well to communicate
with the State Accident Insurance.
Board Equitable Bldg, Baltimore),
before deciding on any final course.
We want to say that We are making
these suggestions purely in the inter-
est and for the help of our local peo-
pie. We felt sure that this law, as it
stands, was going to make a lot OF
needless trouble and expense for our
people in the country districts. The
Editor of the WING, as State Sena
tor, pointed out that fact in the debate
on the bill, and labored for days and
then argued for hours against the en-
actment of the bill in its present FORM
There could be no question but that a
Workmen's Compensation Bill wuld be
enacted. The legislature of 1912 had
provided for the appointment of
special commission to prepare and
present such measure to the Legisla-
ture of 1914. That Commission, after
exhaustive and expert consideration,
framed what was known as the Lord
Workmen's Compensation Bill. Sena-
tor Williams introduced it in the Sen
ate, as a substitute for the present
law, which was introduced by Senator
Hammond. The Hammond Bill was
backed by the Democratic leaders and
many labor organizations. Senator
Archer, of Hartford, and Senator Will
liams, of Cecil, fought long and hard
to amend that Hammond Bill so as TO
relieve the country districts from
many of the hardships which it would
undoubtedly work there. They sue
ceeded in getting the Bill somewhat
amended, but not nearly so much
amended as it should have been. Sen
ator Williams, for instance, offered
an amendment whereby the employer
might decline to insure, in either Of
the forms named in the Bill, but
would in that event be subject to spit
by the injured employe, without re-
course to the cOmmon-iaw defenses.
This would have relieved the whole
needless confusion, trouble and eX-
pense entailed by the Law upon
many small employers in country dis
sricts especially. This amendment
got a good deal of approval and sup
port in the Senate; but the leaders in
both House and Senate had the whip
hand and were determined to put
lIle blll-"i1dt
Senator Williams called "crazy-quilt
affair, full of glazing conditions, i'm
practical, ill-jointed, unscientific, and
which in its operations will prove
disastrous to the State, unacceptable
to employers, and unsafe in the long
run for the employees themselves. We
believe that criticism of the law is de-
served and correct. The Lord Com
pensation Bill was an intelligent and
ineligible measure, prepared by prac-
teal and expert business men. The
Hammond Bill (the present law is a
scissors and-paste-p affair. prepared
by politicians and put through by
politicians for political effect. Well,
we will wait and see what political eff
feet it will have on the gentlemen who
devised and enacted it.