Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-29
SAMUEL GOMPERS
REVIEWS STATE LAW
Labor Leader Answers Request For
Statement on Workmens
Compensation Act.
HE ADVISES A REVISION

HE ADVISES A REVISION
In connection with the action Of
the Central Labor union in March in
voting to launch a movement to force
repeal OF the workmen's compensa-
ton act, Frank Kennedy, editor Of
the Western Laborer, wrote to Sam
uel Gompcrs, president OF the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor requesting
a review Of the law as passed by the
Nebraska legislature. A copy of the
law was forwaded TO Mr.. Gompers.
In a lengthy reply to Mr. Kennedy,
this statement is made by the dis.
tinguished labor leader:
= hope you will advise against
such rash action and, on the other
hand, urge the Central Labor union
and members Of organized labor
generally throughout your state to
Immediately go 10 work with the
serious intention Of revising and
bringing up to date your state COM
pensation law, rather than permit its
repeal
Like Other States.
Mr.. Gompers adds that he finds
the law to be "an average piece of
compensation legislation passed in
the first stages by several state legis-
latures. II is presumably an elective
or optional law and yet an analysis
OF it shows that it is practically
compulsory law, because employers
who do not elect to come under its
provisions IN Part ! are denied the
old common law defenses; and il an
employe declines to come under the
compensation law, he is left to the
mercy Of the court with all of the
old aforesaid common law defenses
available against his claim, with the
further burden Of being compelled 10
prove willful negligence on the part
Of the employer"
The suggestion is made that sub
section l37, dealing with insurance,
should be rewritten, the compulsory
insurance provisions Of the Ohio and
Washington laws being referred to as
models.
In his conclusion Mr.. Gompers of
fered the following comments:
Il think you will be able TO revise |
your state compensation law so
clearly and comprehensively, without |
the aid Of legal, political, insurance
tricksters, that il will insure for the |
working people of Nebraska a first
class, liberal compulsory, comprehen-
sive, automatic compensation-for-in-
juries law.
Commends Efforts Made.
your fellow workers in the states
Of Iowa, Kansas and Missouri have
made splendid efforts to perfect their
laws, In Missouri the law has been
denied the workers by the fighting
and wrangling OF designing insur-
ance and damage case agents, II
would be we'll il conference could
be called at an early date, of repre-
sentative labor men from the states
herein mentioned, all subject TO SINH
lar industrial conditions and all hav-
ing to meet problems of like nature,
so that you could bring ybur state
laws of the Missouri
valley up TO the proper standard,
thereby avoiding the clashes OF profit
takers who have designedly misused
The compensation principle for their
own benefits.
This subject seems to be diff
,ult one and is frequently prepared
n a confusing, difficult way expressly 1
Tor the purpose Of mystifying and
ieceiving the beneficiaries,
THE principle of automatic CONF
requires only simelp provi-
iions OF law, clearly and comprehen-
iiyely written.
Pledge Legislative Candidates.
IF the workers would avoid being
imposed upon and continuously
they should, OF course, take |
lold of this problem themselves and .
work il out TO their own satisfaction,
,ledge their legislative candidates to
he law they have drafted and insist ,
lpon its enactment and administra-
ion, preferably by a member OF or {
,anized labor. The mystery would
hen be dissipated and greater
Measure Of justice would prevail
This thought must be kept upper
most in the minds OF all; organized {
abor never urged compensation laws
or the sake of compensation, but !
instead has pressed them for enact
nent so that employers would install !
he best safety methods available N :
he conduct Of their business in order I
hat the lives and limbs and the ankle {
les OF those in their employ should I
c spared
"The higher We penalize the en-
lovers for the careless Conduct af !
heir business. the quicker will they g
Undertake 10 manage their interests !
aiely and scientifically q