Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-12-08
SQUARE DEAL TO
BE STATES RULE
Chairman Mackey Outlines
What He Wants the States
Referees to Follow

Referees in workmen's compensation
who were appointed last week to take
charge of districts commencing Jan
uary / so that claims for compensation
may be adjusted were told to-day to
give both capital and labor a square
deal by Harry a. Mackey, chairman
of the board. The referees were here
Tor their first meeting and attended
meetings of the chiefs of the Depart
ment of Labor and Industry and the
compensation board and it's force.
In his address Mr.. Mackey said:
You are picked men. His excel
lency the Governor and the Commits
sioner of Labor and Industry. after
the most careful inquiry as to your fit
ness, character and your ability, have
selected you from a great number of
available men, A tremendous respon-
slbilty rests upon your shoulders. So
cial and economic conditions have
given rise to a new thought in indus
trial accidents. Scientific and full de-
VeIopment of that thought has created
Workmens compensation acts The
great experiment is about to be tried
In Pennsylvania. A great popular de-
inand is to be met. The act is about
10 be tested. Governor Brumbaugh.
keen to detect the yearnings of our
people, has become responsible for the
enactment of this legislation and is
chargeable with its efficient admins
tration.
/ Il am not going to talk to you to-
DAY at the outset as to the legal as
poets of the act. / desire to address
myself to the spirit of the law and
urge upon you a most earnest en-
deaNor TO enter upon your duties with
a Just and fair attitude toward every
citizen of this commonwealth. You
Ia.I
OF TINS great state. Your experiences
in life have been different. The paths
you have travelled have been widely
divergent, and therefore we must eX-
pect that you will look at subjects
from different viewpoints. This is
rightly so, for. in thus calling you to
| the performance of this duty we bring
to the aid of this legislation the COM
mon experience and the common
knowledge of this comm onWeaIth
This board, however, is extremely anX-
ious. and in this we voice the earnest
desire of his eXcellency the Governor,
that you remember that this law is the
law or every man, woman and child in
the State of Pennsylvania; that it is
intended to do justice to all. and that
II in its enforcement it does not in
calculably improve the condition of
the man who tolls and if it is not of
great economic advantage to the en-
or we have failed to properly admin
lister it,
You must see that the rights of all
men are preserved. You must know
no distinction between employer and
employe. There must be no arraign-
ment of class against class or of one
element of our citizenship against an
other. 1t is our desire that you ad-
| minister this law with the least in
convenience possible to employer and
employe. 1t is your duty to go to them
rather than to summon them to you.
In the case of an accident your place
for hearing is in close proximity to the
scene of investigation. Technicalities
will have no place in your rules of
procedure. A determination of the
truth must always be your watchword
and to arrive at this desired result
/ technical objections must not blind
your vision nor blunt the keehness of
your perception. Yours, Therefore. is
a mighty responsibility. l am con-
tident that an exercise of a wise dis
cretion upon your part will demon
strate the wisdom and economic value
of this great legislation"