Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-01
3RD AMENDMENT
VITAL TO STATE
Importance of the Compensa-
ton Change to Constitution
Is Emphasized Now

State Treasurer Robert *. Young,
chairman of the State workmen's In
srrance Fund. to-day issued state
ment In which he strongly urged the
ratification of the third amendment
to the Constitution, which permits
enactment OF compulsory compen-
sation laws. Mr.. Young says it is
necessary to complete the compen-
sation system.
The Treasurer's statement is as fol-
lows:
The proposed amendment to the
Constitution of the Commonwealth
which appears third upon the ballot to
be submitted to the voters of the State
at the November election is that which
anepds Section 21 of Article so as
to give the Legislature the power to
enact a compulsory workmen's COM
pensation act. Every voter should
support this amendment, as it is of
great importance in the extension of
workmen's compensation laws for our
State. This amendment reads as fol-
lows:
THE General Assembly may enact
laws requiring the payment by employ
ers, or employers and employees jointly,
or reasonable compensation for in
Jur1es to employees arising in the course
OF their employment, and for occupa-
tionai diseases of employees. whether
or not such injuries or diseases result
in death. and regardless of fault of
employer or employe, and fixing the
basis of ascertainment of such COM
pensation and the maximum and mini
mum limits thereof. and providing
SDRciaI 20
collection thereof; but in no other
cases shall the General Assembly limit
the amount to be recovered for in
1uries resulting in death, or for in
Jurtes to persons or property, and in
case or death from such injuries the
right OF action shall survive. and the
General Assembly shall prescribe for
whose benefit such actions shall be
prosecuted. No act shall prescribe any
limitations of time within which suits
may be brought against corporations,
or Tor other causes. different from
those fixed by general laws regulating
actions against natural persons, and
such acts now existing are avoided"
The dominant purpose of the work.
mems compensation act Of 1915 is to
encourage the decrease in the number
OF industrial accidents by stimulating
the improvement of safety conditions,
to secure to the employees who are in
Jured the speedy payment of definite
part of their wages. by this means
securing to those injured employees
and their families a reasonable main
tenance to assist in saving the victims
from poverty and pauperism, and to
aid in the proper upbringing and edu-
cation of their children.
The vital importance OF a work.
mems compensation law caused the
legislature at its last session to enact
the present law. which goes into force
on the first of January next. The pro-
visions OF this act are so fair that it is
not likely that many employers will
reject the benefits. In order that no
employees will be deprived of the pro-
lection which the act was intended to
give, the proposed third amendment
should receive your vote at election.
In order that the State may be In
position TO safeguard the welfare of
the workers. it should have the right
to require that every person employed
IN It's industries shall have the protec-
ton of its workmen's compensation
act.