Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-05-31
"ON[Y TWO REAL LAWS
IN Texas Statutes
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY AND
PERMANENT WAREHOUSE
ACTS" ~.

NMAtNGV WAn6SIOO0s II
ACTS" sa
Houston. Texas-That the Employ.
brs' Liability Act and the Permar
nent Warehouse Law are the only
two pieces Of constructive legislation
now on the statute books Of Texas
Ii the charge of J. s. Cullinan, chair
man Of the Texas Economic League,
In a statement In which he says:
I'VE have upon the statute books
Of Texas at this time only two pieces
Of constructive Legislation capable
Of maximum efficiency In admins
tration. they are the Employers Ii.
ability Act and the Permanent Ware
house Law. Both Of these laws rep
resent a type Of cooperative legis-
lation, in which the citizen has q
part in the administration Of law.
They call upon the business genius
of the day to solve business prob
lens, and appeal to the citizenship
for cooperation In instituting collec-
tive economies and encouraging fair
dealings between nan and man, and
between any n line Of business and
hat Of associated industries. Having
had some experience In dealing with
large business problems, and having
made observations from points that
admit Of . wide horison Of vision, I
have formed very definite conclusions
loo to the difficulties and remedies
that confront our Government In the
development Of industry.
Law Seeks Common Result.
THE result which both these laws
seek Is identical with that Of the
antitrust law; to-wit, to prevent un-
fair transactions. A comparison VI
the operation Of these laws, both as
to methods and results, with that OF
the antitrust law is therefore In
structive.
perhaps no line OF industry yields
more readily to price-ixing than liza
bility insurance, and probably few
established lines Of business yielded
higher profits than those enjoyed by
the oldline companies at the time
this act was placed upop the statute
books. Since the formation Of the
Texas Employers Insurance Associs-
lion, the rates have been reduced
approximately one-third, and the
amount Of compensation received by
the injured employee is estimated to
have doubled, and no business has
been penalized or discredited. This
happy result has been accomplished
by reducing the rates Of insurance
to reasonable profits, and eliminating
the lawyers fees. No injured EN-.
ploye insured In the Texas Employ
srs' Insurance Association has ever
found It necessary to pay a lawyer
one dollar to assist in the settle
ment; whereas. under the old system
the lawyers usually got half the
amount awarded the injured party.
This law has completely done away
with the lawyer dominating business
transactions In all matters under Its
Jurisdiction and broken up Unfair
combinations to fix prices. I consid'
err the legal trust and the business
trust the seat OF much OF the troubles
in government and their elimination
Us possible only through cooperative
Legislation Of the character above
mentioned.
"The present antitrust law has
been In force for several years ant
has been tried out in numerous cases
against almost every line OF indus
try in Texas, and while II has com
mendable purposes, II can not b.
said that this piece Of legislation ha.
Influenced the price Of the commodit!
in litigation. which. I take II. is thu
essential feature OF the law. Whethet
the absence OF practical results Il
due to legislative or administrator,
defects I'm the antitrust law IL not
part OF this discussion. The point
seek TO make Is that business legis
I~lation, which admits OF cooperation
! of the citizens In its administration
is successful, and that which depend
, solely upon court decree falls utteI
I. lily to accomplish results.
I, Antitrust Law.
I Il have witnessed the anti.trus
!. law gut the credit Of strong bus
. ness copcerns. and leave their secul
( titles in biackened ruin; have seen
J. reek vengeance upon honest, couri
geous and capable business men. an
leave them dazed. frightened and ia
0 tering. have observed II clutc
what the State claimed to be III
most vicious criminals In the bus
ness annals OF America. and the
suddenly release them with a paltr
compromise. In almost every cas-
o Industry, Government and the pc
q pie lost. and no one pronted but n
lawyers. I believe that strong Law
are necessary TO prevent criminal acI
OF strong corporations. and while u
antitrust law may DO subject TO II
provement, II should not be repes
+. led. As ! o Il. the most importal
J, thing lacking In the antitrust Ia
I Is sound judgment In It's administr
10 tion. Take the two examples OF c
70 operative legislation which I ha'
"a mentioned. and the law Is admin
10 tered by business men who use bui
10 mess methods in solving busine
IA Iproblems. Under business superyI