The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1915-06-26

II
sions Of the year, ths Michigan su
prone court upheld the constitutional
ity Of the workingmen's compensation
oct. enacted BY the legislature OF 1914
bat did not pass on any portion ol
the act ~ affecting municipalities.
Different rulings Of the industrial
accident board had been before the
court from time to time. but nevez
before had the highest tribunal N
the state interpreted the general pur'
pose Of the law - whole.
Action was brought By Thomas
Mackin. an employee of the Timken-
Detroit Axle company, who was In
Jured October 8. 1919, while oilins
some shafting. Mackin. In order 70
recover compensation from the COM
pany. proceeded under the common
law for personal injuries in the same
manner as though the compensation
act had not been In effect. The COM
pany declared that It had elected TO
come under the provisions of the work
ingmen's compensation law and the
lower court directed Mackin to pro
coed under the terms OF the new act
Justice Steere's opinion. signed by
every member of the court, says In
part: :.
1T is to be recognized at the out
set that workmen'sN compensation leg
islation of this class, based ON the
economic principle of trade risk in
that personal injury losses incident to
industrial disputes are like wages and
breakage of machinery, part Of the
cost of production. works fundamen-
tai changes in the familiar principles
underlying and governing the doctrine
Of liability for negligence. as hereto
fore applied to the relation OF mas
ter and servant. 4 Z
But 1t by no means follows that
this comparatively recent and rad
zeal legislation upon the subject, en-
acted to meet changed industrial con-
ditions and afford relief from evils
and defects which had developed I'M
der the old rules Of law In negligence
cases for personal injury Of employees,
violates the spirit or letter of our
constitution.
THE policy. Importance and pro-
priety of this legislation, in its gen.
eral plan and purpose, are not open
to question and we do not find 1t sub
ject to the constitutional objections
urged In this record.
mo attack is made here upon
that portion of the act relating to
municipalities. and therefore, no ques-
ton which might arise in that con-
nection is considered or decided
Seeks Pay for Sand Taken From Lake.
Following the lead set by the at
torney general in bringing suit
against sand dredgers in the st. Clair
flats, the public domain commission
Is shortly to ask accountings from
the operators OF dredgers and sand
suckers on the west coast of the state
near Benton Harbor. It has been the
custom of operators from Chicago and
Milwaukee to come across the lake
and take sand. This practice the COM
mission wants to stop and at the
same time compel an accounting so
that the state may get what is COM
ing to 1t.
Trespass Agent Glenn r. Munshaw
OF the commission has started an in
vestfgation and expects to have suits
ready to start within few days.
Safe Crossings Is Aim Of Board.
When the Michigan railroad COM
mission takes the field about July /,
for the annual inspection of the steam
and electric roads. an entirely new
line OF work will be attempted.
Highway crossings, which for a
long time have been problem, will
be inspected with regard to their
safety.
The legislature OF 1918 gave author
ity to change crossings of county and
state roads and railroads, steam and
| otherwise. where there was evident
danger, jointly to the railroad COM
mission and the state highway depart
| ment.
In the past there has been but lit
tie regard for Safety First The
cost Of grading, the juxtaposition of
the communities which the roads
reach and other matters OF local i'm
portance have been pushed to the
front while the question of whether
or not the crossing is dangerous
one has been totally disregarded. The
new law compels the submission of
all plans for crossings to the railroad
commission and the highway commits
sioner.
II the railroad commissioner and
the highway commissioner pick out
| any crossing they regard as a menace
II must be changed. II separation
Of grade Is necessary 1t can be or
| dered.
| J. =. Hamn1eIi Picked.
Labor Commissioner Cunningham
announced the appointment of James
y. Hammell of Lansing as chief dep
uty Of the labor department to sue
coed c. A. verieyhn. who. on June Is.
becomes one OF the new inspectors
Il - - - -