Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-05
DOCK HANDS WALK OUT,
MISTAKTNG INTENT OF
COMPENSATION LAWS
,oroshoremen Tie Up Traffic
of Southern Steamship Co.,
Which Shifts Liability
to Subcontractors
NAY SETTLE DIFFERENCE

.c,sion brought about by failure to
,..s,ond the workman's compensa-
- iow which went into effect January
todsv caused strike on the docks
,ho southern steamship Company, Pier
= pe,aware River, and temporary tie
IL freight handling Men employed
,ho subcontractor stevedores to move
,so oompany freight believed, after read
- notice posted by the company,
,no, some one was attempting to beat
,..u, ont of their right to compensa-
zion Consequently they quit work.
y, reality. the company proclamation,
.Lrosed In terms a little too technical for
,ho understanding of the negro and for
,lrn workmcn employed on the docks,
uo,iaed them that they must look to the
subcontractor who employs them for COM
rensatIon under the act. In nking this
s,and the company places itself open to
civi, suit under the law, in case the sub
sortractor's adjustment is not satisfac-
,orv 10 the injured workman, and robs
,,ssif of the defense of "contributory
nogiipence' and "fellow servants cul-
nsbllity which was possible to advance be-
FORE the operation of the new act. The
Southern Steamship Company however,
Is not attempting to evade the law, ac-
cordinr TO Harry A. Mackey. chairman of
The Workman's Compensation Board. and
is acting within its right In proclaiming
ns refusal to accept the automatic COM
pensation provision of the law.
COULD SUE COMPANY.
Mr. Mackey said that the company was
80 kn Fr,yif, NnarN itntn hs,
nre"
Workmen unfamiliar with the law i'm
medIately came to the conclusion that
they were being notified that they could
not look TO the company for compensa-
ton when they were paid Friday after
noon and a copy of the notice was handed
10 each man The dissatisfaction with
the company's stand reached crisis to-
day and so of the men struck
Workmen say they will not return to the
docks and that they will get out as many
other men as possible. 1t Is believed that
when the law is explained to them they
will return. Their chances for collecting
damages from the company, should they
be dissatisfied with the payment made by
their immediate employers, the Subcon-
tractors, are about 100 to 1, according to
Mr. Mackey, for the company would be
virtually defensele=s, should 1t be sued
under article of the act
o NOTICE TO WORKMEN.
The notice which caused the trouble,
and was duplicated on posters placed
about the companys property, reads as
follows:
"You are hereby notified that this COM
pany does not accept the provisions of
article 3 of the workmens compensation
act of 1915, and will not pay the schedules
OF compensation thereby established. Said
article 3 will not apply to any contract
or agreement OF hiring or otherwise be-
tween employees and others and this com
pany, now in operation or hereafter made,
implied, renewed or extended, or to in
juries to or deaths of employees or other
persons in the course of their employment
or on premises or vessels occupied or
controlled by this company. This notice
given pursuant to sections 302 Ia. 302 (b)
and other provision of said act"
The notice Is signed by George w.
De Lanoy, vice president of the Southern
Steamship Company.