Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-01
STATE INSURANCE
FOR EMPLOYEES
NOW ADVOCATED
Proposition Is to Make It Part
of New Jerseys Employers
Liability Act.
MEDICAL ATTENDANCE
AND CARE DESIRED, TOO
Plan of Legislative Campaign
Outlined at Conference in This
City Last Night
MEDICAL ATTENDANCE
AND CARE DESIRED, TOO

Compulsory insurance under the
employers liability act, an increase
of compensation for disability sus-
tanned while at work, more liberal
provision for medical attendance. a
provision for the care of patients suf-
fering from occupational diseases,
and State insurance fund under
the immediate direction of the de-
partment of banks and insurance.
were among the plans discussed end
approved at a meeting of the repre-
sentatives of employers and organ
ized labor held last night in the
Washington.
This, the second meeting to be held
in this city TO discuss the employers
liability act, is one Of series under
the direction of the American Asso-
citation for Labor Legislation. It was
an executive session, newspaper men
not being admitted until the debate
had been finished. They were then
called in and an official statement of
what had been accomplished was
given to them.
DR.. John B. Andrews, secretary Of
the American Association for Labor
Legislation, discussing the meeting,
said that il was the outgrowth Of the
attempt to amend, the law last year.
when, because Of the clash between
the various interests affected, no
amendment was obtained.
"And amendment is more than
necessary" added DR.. Andrews. New
Jersey was the first State to take
up the question of worlkmen's COM
10. I.n 20 IN Ia f=fs
beneficial act upon the statute
books.
Say Jersey Not Up TO Standard
but now there are compensation
laws on the books of thirty-three
States in the Union. The law in this
State is the least perfect Of all, other
States beneHting by the experience
Of New Jersey. ATTEMPTS 10 mod
ernize the statute have net with op
position from conflicting interests,
and nothing has been accomplished.
fThe meetings we are Holding are
in the nature Of Get together meet
ings, where the represent Of all
the interests most yit1lly concerned
have plans presented to hem
The result OF The meetings VIII be
enbodfed III Bits ufsfwn by the leRis-
lative bureau Of C,olunibia University,
and in this form viii be presented to
the State Legislature for considera-
ton as soon as it meets.
Compulsory insurance was the
chief topic of the evenings discus
sion. William B. Dickson, chairman
of. the Employers Liability Commis-
sion. suggested that there should be
q state insurance fund under the
suuervision of the State banking COM
missioner. Such plan, he said, would
safeguard employer and enploye
alike and would prevent the insurance
companies from taking undue profits
under the law
want New Bureau Established.
It was also decided that there should
he a specially constituted bureau Of
xvorlxnen's compensation in the State
Department of Labor. This will give
to the commissioner power to admin
ister the law. At present the law
gives to nobody any power in the
matter. it was asserted. 1t was
pointed out that the Employers LA
hility Commission is not clothed with
anv right to exercise either admin
istrative or executive functions.
An increase of the compensation for
disability, to last throughout the life
of an injured or disabled person II
necessary, was agreed to. it being
asserted as the law stands at present,
it Is entirely too low.
In addition to this a more liberal
provision for medical attendance was
urged. This, ii was asserted, viii
bring about more early recovery,
reduce the amount of compensation
for disability. and largely decrease
the amount of doctors bills TO be
paid by employers.
The representatives Of the Manu-
facturers' Association suggested that
a bill be drawn TO cover occupationai
diseases. and to bring such cases
within the purview OF the State COM
missioner of labor. On this all OF
those who were present were agreed.
Manufacturers to Submit Wants.
At the close of the meeting it was
announced that committee of the
Manufacturers Association would
draft certain OF their suggestions IN
legal form, that they may be thor
oughly discussed at a future meeting.
II was also declared that the meet
ings would result in all of the bodies
represented being in full accord at
the openinR OF the Legislature, and
that a Joint committee would present
their joint findings in the shape OF
complete program for legislative
enactment.
Those present included Lewis I.
Bryant, commissioner of labor;
Chairman William B. Dixon, of the
Employers Liability Commission;
Vice President j. w. Ferguson, Sec
retary w. @. Dillman and Trustee
Charles w. Crane, of the Manufae-
turers' Association OF New Jersey;
President Arthur Quinn and Secretary
Henry Hilfers. of the State Fedora
tion of Labor: Arthur B. Jones, OF
the General Chemical Company; A.
w. Parsons, general manager Of the
Manufacturers Liability Insurance
Company; Harry Meixeil, of New
Jersey State Chamber of Com
merce; Joseph Chamberlain and Mid
dleton Beaman, Legislative Drafting
Bureau; Professor H. r. Seager,
president, and DR.. John B. Andrews
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