The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-11-04
STATES FOLLOW OUR LEAD
Interesting Addresses Are Made Befors
the Kenosha Safety Round Table by
Fred E. Wilcox and Commissioner
j. D. Beck at Session Tuesday.

Tuesday night the Kenosha Safety
Round Table held its regular Novem-
Der session at the Elks' club and be-
fore practically every superintendent
and foreman of Kenosha IS various in
dustries, Fred E. Wilcox, commission
er of the industrial commission of the
state of Wisconsin, delivered an adj
dress on the Workings of the Wis
consin Compensation Act" which was
exceedingly interesting and instruc-
tive.
Mr.. Wilcox message was not an
array of figures to be heard and then
forgotten, but was brief outline of
the history of compensation in the
state of Wisconsin, from the time of
the first presentation of the matter to
the legislature of 1909, through the
enactment of the law during the ses-
sion of 1911 up to the present reading
of the law, and as an Illustration of
the way this legislation has met with
the favor of Wisconsin manufacturers,
Mr.. Wilcox stated that from an orig
inal 81 employers with $4,000 en-
ployees, there now were under the
provisions of the act $4,000 employers
with 100000 employees and, further,
following iu She tracks made by Wis
consin twenty-one states had already
adopted compensation acts and in
number of others such legislation
was pending.
The desirabilities of the compensa-
ton act as against the unreasonable,
unjust and uncertain provisions of the
negligence. laws which it replaced,
were brought out convincingly by Mr..
Wilcox, and left not a doubt in the
minds of the men present at the meet
ing that the adoption of the new mode
of procedure had been for the good
of employee and employer as well
particular stress was laid upon the
fact that in its dealings the commits
sion endeavored at all times to inter
pref the law fairly to all concerned
That it had purposely been written so
as to be made self operative insofar
as possible and that the industrial
purpose of hearing and deciding legi-
innate disputes which are bound to
arise, and in the conduction of their
hearings absolute informality was
practiced so that any employee could
appear before their examiner and tell
his story and be assured of "square
deal " without the necessity Of talking
through an attorney; that he could
safely represent himself or have any
one he wished represent him and thus
not be forced to split whatever he
might receive with an attorney Mr..
Wilcox stated that during the four
years over which the act has been in
effect Kenosha had given the commits
sion but very little to do in the way
of hearings, their examiner not hav-
ing been here more than three times
during that period.
Mr.. Wilcox showed that during the
fiscal year ending June Goth, 1915,
ninety-fve and half per cent of all
accidents which had happened through
out the state had been covered by COM
pensation, during that year $4,000 in
jured workmen or their dependents
receiving compensation. In addition
to the above, it was estimated that at
least 10000 injuries had been sustain
ed, necessitating medical attention
only, that is injuries which failed to
disable more than seven days.
During this same year 1887 cases
were adjusted by the commission,
either through hearings or otherwise,
and there were 843 controverted mat
tess actually heard before the commits
sion. In addition to this the commits
sion had attended to the general adj
ministration Of the act as well as taken
care of the allied functions which
were a part of their duties. That it
had taken up matter of safety and had
done all in their power to promuIgate
safety and would continue to do so.
Mr.. Wilcox then went fully into the
workings of the act and explained in
detail how compensation was figured
and all other features in connection
with which there was liable TO be
confusion and then answered such
questions as were put to him.
With Mr.. Wilcox was Commissioner
J. d. Beck, who made few short re-
marks, speaking particularly on physi-