The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-08-05
PAY S300,0Q0 UNDER
COMPENSATE LAW
Revolution Brought About In
Industrial Conditions In State
of Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis, Aug. 3.-The an
nual report of the Wisconsin Indus
trial commission marks the end of
the first five years under workmen's
compensation in Wisconsin industry.
The figures will tell, even though in a
somewhat colorless manner, the story
of one of the great economic revo-
lutions in American history, since it
has been brought about in the brief
span Of half decade,
Change OF View.
Just five years ago the great ma.
jority of Wisconsin employers were
lighting mad" because the legisla-
ture had passed the workmen's COM
pensation act. They called it an in
dustrial outrage; they predicted a
state of anarchy and overwhelming
disaster to the states industries; and
insisted that Wisconsin's industries
could no longer compete with COM
petitors in other states. Meanwhile
the Wall street insurance companies
pitched into the fight with renewed
vigor. They boosted their insurance
rates sky-high in efforts to kill the
principles of workmen's compensa-
ton,
But five years have brought a great
change. Wisconsin's industries are
more prosperous than ever before;
anarchy is a stranger to the state;
the insurance, companies are making
money on rates that are a fraction
Of what they formerly were. The
employers who saw red at the men,
ton of compensation are now doing
the square thing by injured employees
of their departments. The old argu-
ment that the economic balance be-
tween competing states would be de-
stroyed and that cobwebs would
cover Wisconsin industries has been
disprover. Every other industrial
state in the union has adopter the
Workmen's compensation principle.
They followed Wisconsin's lead.
American industry is on a new basis.
And this new basis has been estab-
lished in the astonishingly brief period
of five years.
What Has Been Done.
The 1916 report will show that in
5ured employees and the dependents of
men killed;in industry since 1911 have
been paid in evcess of $3,000,O00 in
compensation. In the five years pre-
eding 1911 scant 100000 was paid
and much of this sum went not to
the injured persons but to LAWYERS.
doctors. ambulance chasers and
others. The cost to the state through
court proceedings was stupendous.
Labor was antagonized because it did
not get a square deal.
The Wisconsin compensation act
was drafted by a special committee
appointed by the 1909 legislature. This
committee worked through 1909 and
1910. The members were Senators
A.W. Sanborn, E. T. Fairchild, J. j.
Blaine; Assem- blymen Wallace In
gals. c. B. Culbertson, G. G.. Brew.
Walter Egan, the latter of Superior.
now deceased. P. y. Watrous was
secretary. A. T. Van Scoy as repre-
sentative of the employers interests.
and Fred Brockhausen as representa-
tive of the workmen's interests. sat
with the committee on all occasions
and assisted in the drafting of the
law. Harry L. Butler was counsel.
Prof. John r. Commons and Reuben
Mckittrick assisted the committee as
economist and in drafting bills in
accordance with the committee's in.
structlons. So successful was the
committees work that many other
states have copied large parts of the
Wisconsin law.