The Alaska daily empire., 1915-04-24
COMPENSATION ACT
 WILL PASS SENATE.

Though Inst nights session of the
 resrliorial Senate. sitting ae com
 r.f.so che whole to consider s. B. No. 47 che workmen's compensation act acted only tentatively their sev. eral expressions leaves no doubt that che bin win poss chat body with 9 few minor amendments. when 1t is ta. ken up again tonight or tomorrow.
 "I believe this bill is going to pass remarked Senator Sutherland near the close of the session last night, and ] would like Co see it put through as speedily as possible, so the House win have four or i've days in which Go consider it am willing to forego the trip through the Alaska-Juneau mines sunday in order to act on 1t. ! 'on ,bink Mr. Bradley would be of
 ldcd
 sNo." replied Senator Gaustad. 'l believe he would rather have this bill passed
 Senator Willard was absent from the meeting. and with Senator Gaustad presiding. the consideration of the bin proceeded
 'This bin is an experiment" said Senator Sutherland "and the most im- portant measure. l think. since the Or ganie Act was secured.
 Sutherland suggested that if the bill were passed that it be made to expire at the end of two years experiment. A debate on this point ended in a re-
 cction by the majority.
 The principle debate of the evening was on the motion of Senator Suther- land chat the amounts in the sched. uie be increased 30 per cent though ,he section relating to forfeiture in ease an action to collect damages were brought outside the division in which the accident occurred was con sidered and amendments proposed.
 Sutherland justified his suggestion for higher schedule on the proposi- ton that life is worth more in Alaska that on the Outside. based on his earn ing capacity which he stated was trs'ce as great in the Interior. The Senate is in the position of jury passing upon Che value of life and limb. he said
 Sulzer. "I do not take that view. l don't believe that fife or limbs can be estimated in dollars. The idea is 10 compensate dependants or the injured workman himself and not to remun- crate. and the only basis is Che aver age Of the compensation laws of the States. Some people look upon this bul as a blind for the companies. but it will apply to small operators. and the small operators aggregate more than the larger ones
 Tanner "My wife might not think my life worth anything either here or below. while ] might think 1t worth lot That is not the basis. It is com pensation. and not life value that we are after and we should not jump at 
 AtEdllN. Ao taAN t-s MN NA"""s fx compensation until We first estao- fish 8 value or loss. The perspec' ! tive value of a mans life should be taken into account The standard of manhood is higher here than on the because he has greater possi- ] 5uities. We cannot compensate un- less we determine upon loss.
 Gaus,ad "We are more in the po- sition Of actuaries than that of jury. We should strike an average. lt the schedule is placed too high the com papies might reject the terms of 1t 1 and defeat the purpose of che biil- For my part think the schedule in the act correct and would not vote to raise 1t one per cent
 Hubbard "It has been my obser- | sation that of those bringing damage | suits against employers, not over DO per cent. ever get anything. and those who do get only DO per cent of what hey sue for. Half of this usually goes 70 the attorneys, leaving claimant i .5 per cent. However ] believe the
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