Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-26
GOVERNOR URGES
3RD AMENDMENT
Issues Statement Pointing Out
Its Importance to the
People of State

Governor Brumbaugh last night
called upon the people of the State
to vote for the third constitutional
amendment on the November ballot.
This is the amendment to make work
mems compensation effective and 1t af-
fects every employe in the Common
wealth. IF enacted it does away with
the constitutional provision which
prevents compensation from being
elective.
The Governor said in his state
ment:
"A most important amendment to
the Constitution of the Commonwealth
will be submitted to the voters of the
State at the November election. 1t
amends Section 23 of Article three so
as to give to the Legislature the
power to enact a compulsory Work
mems Compensation Act. This amend
ment is of vital importance to every
employer and employe and should
receive the support of every voter to
uphold the purpose of Workmen's s
! Compensation. This amendment
reads as follows:
The General Assembly may enact
laws requiring the payment by en-
! ployers and employees jointly, or rea-
sonable compensation for injuries to
employees arising in the course of
their employment, and for occupa-
| tional diseases of employees, whether
or not such injuries or diseases result
! in death, and regardless of fault of
employer or employe. and fixing the
basis of ascertainment of such COM
pensation and the maximum and mini
| mum limits thereof, and providing
special or general remedies for the
collection thereof; but in no other
cases shall the General Assembly limit
the amount to be recovered for in
juries resulting in death. or from in
| juries to persons or property, and in
case of death from such injuries. the
right of action shall survive, and the
General Assembly shall prescribe for
whose benefit such actions shall be
prosecuted. No act shall prescribe
any limitations of time within which
suits may be brought against cor
porations, or for other causes, differ
ent from those fixed by general laws
regulating actions against natural
persons. and such acts now existing
are avoided"
THE purpose of Workmen's Com
Ipensation is to decrease the number of
| industrial accidents, to secure to the
victims of such accidents when they
do occur, the speedy payment of a
{ definite part of their wages, so secur-
ing to them and their families a rea-
sonable maintenance and a proper
education for their children, and to
promote good and friendly relations
between employers and employees.
| Recognizing the vital importance to
the Commonwealth of the lives, safety
| and economic welfare of it's industrial
workers, the education of their chill
dren and good feeling between Capital
and Labor, the Legislature at its last
session enacted Workmen's Compen-
sation Act which becomes operative
on the first of January next.
| The provisions of the act are so fair
that there is every likelihood that
practically no employees will reject its
beneficial provisions. But so long as
any considerable number of employees
are deprived of the protection which
the act was intended to give them, the
will of the State expressed by the
Legislature is nullified, the public
policy of the Commonwealth is disre-
garded. 1t is self-evident that the
final decision upon a question so vital
to the common good should be decided
by your vote at election. The State
should have the right to require, not
merely to suggest, that every person
| employed in it's industries shall have
the protection of its Workmen's Com
pensation Act"