The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-09-02

law, the idea uppermost was to the
effect: If absolute, quick and sure COM
pensation was to be looked for, then all
mlddlemen or Intermediates would have
to be eliminated. However, there was a
provision that upon complying with GER
tain requirements, firm or corporation
might arrange to carry its own insur-
ance, after having satisfied the proper
State officials of their financial ability
to do so.
In formulating a system of compensa-
ton, it must be borne in mind that the
plans in force in European countries
were planned for the whole country in
which it became operative In the
United States it became necessary to
take up the matter along the lines of
each State being a government unto
itself upon internal management and the
regulation OF industries, other perhaps
than those which had to do with the
lntrastate and interstate traffic.
In the second paragraph of this article
mention is made that judges and law
yers assisted in the PRONUNCIATION of
workmen's compensation laws. This
statement, however, is paradoxical. Hun
dreds of thousands Of workmen never
after they had been injured, a suit for
damages undertaken, it was seldom that
in case of recovery, were they permitted
to receive any compensation until after
long drawn-out litigation And then
perhaps widow, the dependent chill
dren or other nearest of kin, found that
fees and litigation had fguratvely left
them in debt while the home had been
broken and the inmates dispersed to
possible charitable institutions.
Laws delay and the uncertainty of
recovery aroused organized working
men, quite as much as did the charitable
CD procedure of the industrial indem-
nifty insurance companies.
In very exhaustive and compre-
hensive investigation made by what is
known as the Russell Sage Foundation
in the Pittsburg and Allegheny district,
and by the Employers Liability Com
mission of Ohio, in Cuyahoga county, of
that State, a condition of affairs was dis
closed that was SO appalling and black
for change, that in all the testimony
offered, not single individual offered
word in palliation.
The laws delay either through the
clogging of the machinery, or through
the dilatory tactics of those having the
cases in hand, in many instances, per-
mittcd the wearing down of litigants
and the eventual settlement at merely
nominal or insignificant sums; in many
cases barely enough being received to
pay the burial expenses, and then only
if they did not exceed $40 to $50.
1t must not be inferred that all judges
and lawyers sought to hinder or OBJ
struct the process of melting out JUS
ticc to the injured workman or his de
pcndcnts in case of his death. But in
the taking of testimony covering thou
sands OF pages, the word "shyster" and
tool were very frequently used, along
with ambulance chasers."
Under State workmcn's compensa-
ton law the word "shystcr" and Gam
bulancc chaser" will become obsolete in
! solar as it may be used in connection
with an injured workman or dependents
| 1t may be quite true that in the es-
timation and opinion of many workmen
and others, that compensation to injur-
ed workmen and dependents is placed at
too low figure. When it is taken into
consideration that within the short space
OF 1--WE years 100 per cent of workmcn
arc ItCclNliS ilculCdl ana surgical at
tcntion, prompt awards for injuries with
out being forced to take paupcr's oath
to secure that settlement, it is indeed
a long step forward.
In several States the cost of CARRYING
industrial insurance by employers has
been reduced, while the awards to in
jured workmen have remained at the orr
glnal figures. The next step along the
| lines of workmcnS compensation will
be to increase the awards and make
| those awards more quickly available to
the injured person or his dependent.
Aside from the attempt to partially
compensate an injured workman, one
OF the main features of compensation
law has to do with the reducing of ac-
! cldents. As the compensation law opcr-
ates, and as statistics are used by in
/ demnty companies, the manufacturer in
a particular line of business has his
premiums reduced in proportion to the
reductions of accidents in his particular
! line. 1t is then to his interest to see that
every precaution is taken, and that
when he has man in charge of any one
certain department, who shows an in
! difference to safeguarding the lives and
limbs of the men over whom he has
charge, he at once puts his hands into his
employers pocket by causing an increase