The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-10-15
STARTED IN WISCONSIN.
Aids Dividends and Also Makes Rea-
tions More Harmonious Between
Toiler and Boss-No Lawyers Needed
In Settling Differences as to Compen
sation.

Toier and Boss-No Lawyers Needed
In Settling Differences as to compen-
sation.
Men with crutches, men with hands
or heads bandaged, men with arms in
slings, shawled widows with their chill
dren, attorneys and insurance adjus-
ters surround the table behind which
sit two human looking state officials
and shorthand reporter.
Any one may see this group every
other week in the Milwaukee city hail.
writes correspondent of the New
York Tribune However, only a few
people come as spectators. Truly, the
scene is inconspicuous; it is also epoch
making.
1t marks the beginning of an era of
justice to workingmen and the limita-
ton of economic waste. 1t is an open
demonstration of society's begetting of
a sense of applied justice. Most peo-
pie will say that societys sense of JUS
tice is no new thing. And theoretical
" it isn't a new thing. But practically
it is new thing, with the emphasis on
the lis
This starts like Il socialistic story.
But it isn't. It's the story of one phase
of a movement that spells justice not
only for workingmen but for employ
ers. How? BY saving employers mon
ey. by assuring the payment of the
annual dividend. by assuring the work
man and his family that they will not
suffer entire disaster through bodily
injury of the breadwinner
1t should be said right here that the
Wisconsin workmen's compensation act
aids dividends But it does more than
that; it helps the workingman to get
justice. The conclusion is that the
workmens compensation act is to en-
ployers and workingmen just about
what the brisk wind is to the sailing
schooner
In the twenty eight months of expe-
rience up to Jan. /, 1914, under the
workmen's compensation act, Il total OF
1896, ,354 73 was paid to workingmen of
Wisconsin or their dependents. This
sum represents the amount paid in
6,S94 cases. 1t does not, however, in
clude medical expense, which is about
so per cent of the amount paid as COM
pensation. The total is approximately
1894. .531
Every penny was paid by employers
direct or through insurance companies
which the employers paid for assuming
the risk OF the G9S4 claims entirely
a; -
opinion or disputes demanding formal
action by the industrial commission
All the others were settled amicably be-
tween employers and employees. No
lawyers We're needed.
In June. 1914, 99 per cent Of all in
dustrial accident cases came under the
compensation act In one month last
winter total Of Sf2,550.30 was paid in
CSC cases. Take CSC cases for one
month as the basis for one years bust
ness and the total cases handled in the
next twelve months will be S.232; the
total amount paid out including medi-
cal expense, will be approximately
$765, 800.
In 1903 the employers of Wisconsin,
paid as insurance premiums to liability
companies $G00,S64 These premiums
were to protect the employers from
lawsuits
OF the S600,SG4 paid to insurance
companies by employers only $296S71
was expended by the insurance com
panies under the classification of
''losses." This does not mean that the
$296,871 was paid to injured workmen
or their dependents II means that
this amount included payments to law
yers who fought claims Of employees,
the expense of adjusters and investi-
gators and the amount paid to the in
jured workman or his family Not
more than $150,000 out of the 5000. .So4
ever went to the sufferers.
Five years ago Wisconsin manufac-
turers, lawyers mot all the lawyers.
but some of them, labor unions and
the courts got sick of personal dam
age cases. They saw that millions of
dollars were wasted. They saw that
il workingmen continued to get hurt
at their work without promise of re-
lief for their families anarchy and
chaos would result.
Thus it was that capital and labor
actually united in demand to the leg
islature. The legislature cooked its
ears and listened Finally in 1921 it
appointed a special committee to look
into the problem. The committee
found the solution in Germany and
England and adapted much of Bis
marck's wise methods to Wisconsin
conditions. The workmen's compen-
sation act OF 1911 was enacted.
These figures indicate total eco
nomic loss in the one year of S450,000.
Actual figures on the operation of the
compensation act show that this
amount, with more added, is being
utilized directly in settlements for in
dustrial accidents. There is practical
ly no waste. And employers and their
employees are more nearly at peace
than for years past.
Workmen's compensation, which got
its American start in Wisconsin (wen-
ty-six states now have compensation
acts), has done more than any other
thing to bring about earnest efforts for
the prevention of industrial accidents.