New-York tribune., 1915-03-30
Whitman Intimates Desire
for Changes in Direct
Payment Plan.
THINKS BOTH SIDES
CAN GET TOGETHER
Hearing on ending Measure
Shows FRI is and Foes Agree
on .ertain Points.
I'm, . SIAN Correspondent Of The rfbun, .

tue,.s corrcspondent OF The IrDuhe.I
AIbarv March Ex-Governor "hit-
80. either veto the direct pay
ment amendment to the workme"
comnensation law or have u aItereu
ss The result OF the protest agains.
tbo measure at the hearing before MN
this afternoon. ,a IS tbe
Tegislature last week under emergency
messages from the cher executlSe'
hut at to-day's hearing he asked ques-
tions indicating that he was cons "
ing some changes. lie is satisheu 'n' 20
ON many points the opponents anu a..
yocates agree, and 1t seems 70 Du hiob
opinion that bill can De orawn ~ and
will carry out the wlshes o. D;,nation
-, Tho same time relieve the SITUATION
couae1 nv the long delays In giving in-
inred vorkmen their compensation uh-
der the present law. -, .i.Lt
The Governor has until mldh,ghI
April I TO act on the bill. Shoulu ne
not act on il before then 1t WouIu au'o-
matically become law.
al have three days more and lntehr
to take them to think this matter over
Governor Whitman said, when ASKED
what were his intentions.
James o. Carr, representing the zen,
eral Electric Company, who appeared
in favor Of the bill, declared II was
ridiculous to tell employers they could
not come to an agreement on compeh-
sation with their injured employees I'M
mediately after the injury. lie SAID
this was the effect Of 'he present law
and il had caused a great deal OF SUI
fering among injured worBmen because
Of the delay in getting their money
following the final award OF the COM
pensation Commission.
Robert 5. Bowling, one Of the Com
rensaticn commissioners, who appeared
against the bill, said the commission
had always been in favor of advanced
payments, but he did not think an
agreement should be made between the
employer and employe. He thought
that gave the employer and the casu-
atty company, if such company insured
the employer, an undue advantage over
the emnloye He believed advanced pay.
ments should be made and considered
a lien against the final award OF the
commission. -.
II was recalled that bill providing
for advanced payments as lien against
the commissions final award had been
introduced by Assemblyman Thorn, oi
Buffalo. Governor Whitman was told
this bill had passed the Assembly and
was in the Senate judiciary Committee.
That seems to me a wise piece OF
legislation" said the Governor.
Mr.. Whitman asked c. II. Chase,
president of the New York State Manu-
factuers' Association, who favored the
Sage bill, If il would not satisfy him.
Mr. Chase thorght it would be an i'm
provement over the present law. &. },
Bascalo. of Buffalo, also thought his
advocacy OF the direct settlements
would be met by the Thorn bill.
Frederick b. DeBerard, of the Mer-
chants Association, said the direc- pay
ment amendment would encourage self
insurance. eventually eliminating the
casualty companies, and would save the
state money.
A big delegation of labor representa-
tives appeared against the Sage bill.
Miles r. Dawson, one of the drafters
of the workmen's compensation law, de-
clared the Sage bill would give the
casualty companies the whip hand.
81 am opposed TO the sanction of law
upon any game where one side IS play
ing with loaded dice" declared j. May
hew Wainwright, an eX-member OF the
commission "The employer or his
agent. the casualty company, would
hold the loaded dice. Who esked for
this bill, Governor No one seems to
know whence it came. Perhaps il was
left founding on Senator Sage's door
e+op