The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-01-12

TVoU misuUuCFStdHutUY- ~
tention of the General Assembly to
Financial Needs of cities--claims
Agricultural Affairs Of the State
Entitled to More Stable Policy.
Columbus, Jan. Ex-Governor Cox In
his message to the general assembly,
among other things, urged adoption
Of the initiative amendment to the
workmen's compensation law, and
called attention to the financial needs
Of the larger cities of the state. His
message follows:
To the General Assembly:
With the beginning of the new con-
gtitutiona regime four years ago, ana
while facing the responsibilities I'M
posed at that time, made this official
observation:
at requires considerable faith in
che righteousness of a cause to turn
face from the old order of things,
mindful that the policies of govern
ment about to be adopted involve the
hopes and aspirations--th happiness
and general welfare of five million
human souls. But history tells us
that while we can profit immeasur-
ably by the experience of the past,
every government that has endured
kept it's face toward the sunrise and
not the sunset of civilization. We rev.
erence the works of our fathers, and
seek to prove the worthy sons OF
worthy sires, by making as great de-
velopment in our time as they made
In theirs. Ours is not the creed of
the cynic, looking with scorn upon
the institutions of yesterday. Civili-
cation is simply relay race, and un-
less we take it up with the freshness
Of spirit with which our fathers be-
gan it, the generation is In condi-
tion Of certain decay"
That was the controlling thought
then as it is now, because in theory it
was based upon the philosophy and
Justice of government, and in prac-
tice, the laws passed pursuant to that
policy have proved both efficient and
humane. Let me impress upon you,
however, with most respectful en-
phasis, that progress is made by two
distinct stages, and if results are to
Justify the basic principle, there must
be two obiectives First, the draft
ing of the laws with such forethought
as the finite mind possesses, and Sec
ond, the most vigilant and sympa-
thetic administration of them. Newly
cleared ground is more susceptible of
rank underground than either the
forest or the titled soil, and in this
biennial period when your RESPONSE
bilities and mine are in common, we
must, in order to approach the maxi
mum possibilities for the general
good hold to the fundamentals upon
which the new legislation was based,
and go on further in this session than
to provide for accruing necessities.
Unrestrained theory would soon turn
the thought of the state to reaction.
and the public estimate would be that
we were controlled more by caprice
than constructive capacity. The laws
that came from the new constitution
four years ago, have stood the test Of
the gauntlet of sustained, insidious
and artful opposition. They are
Structurally sound, and we should be
sure that the revision made, is but
the logical adjustment Of an unaltered
principle to changing conditions.
Favors Initiated Bill.
OF first Importance is the proposal
TO strengthen the workmen's compen-
sation law, and l most earnestly rec,
ommend the adoption Of the initiated
was passed, it was desired to displace
liability insurance with a plan OF
guaranteed compensation to injured
workmen and dependents, without re-
course to law.
Liability insurance, in its very es'
sence, is opposed, if not repugnant tc
the principle of compensation. The
former gave very uncertain relief tC
the toiling masses-the latter assures
immediate relief. We do not go be
yond the unquestioned truth in the
statement that the conditions of so
cial unrest, of impatience with, il, no
a resentful feeling toward the courts
and glaring injustices in every com
munity where there was located shop
mill or mine, grew out of the practice
Of liability insurance. The amend
ment now recommended simply car
ries into effect, by letter, the spirit o
the statute. Let us, in entire fair
ness, recount the detailed opposition
that was made to the workmen's com
sensation bill by the liability insur
ence companies when it was on hear
ing before the joint committees Of tn
two houses:
First: It was contended that tn
administrative cost to the state woul
be one million dollars or more. i
the year 1916, with an unprecedente
industrial activity, the expense ha
been less than three hundred thou
sand dollars.
Second: It was urged that the liza
hility companies could carry on tn
work better than the state becaus
Shey were trained in it, and the stat
was not. The answer TO this is, TIN
the liabilities companies had never er
gagged in the compensation business
while the industrial commission ha
experience, as matter of fact, unde
the voluntary compensation law. d.
velopments have so thoroughly den
onstrated the fallacy of these tw
claims. that they are no longer maiI
tai,ed.
Third: A very ingenious propagand
was established, and has been col
tinued for the purpose Of playin
upon the fear and apprehension Of II
enplover by painting the mirage ,