Bisbee daily review., 1918-06-28
SIGNATURES SECURED FOR AMENDMENT TO
 60 ON BALLOT
Compensation Amendment to Appear on Election Tickets This Fall for Vote of the People

1 AAOL-NlAt (. - HTODOSGu | amendment to the constitution to pro-
 vide compensation for injured work
 men will appear on the ballot this
 fall. In less than three weeks more than S744 signatures were made to the petitions for this measure to get it be- fore the voters, and are continuing to come in.
 The general confidence in and desir- ability of the measure has been given expression by not only the mining dis tricts, where the largest numbr of those coming under the protection of the proposed amendment are, but also from the farming and cattle coun- tries.
 Means Strike Decrease.
 In the mining districts it is realized that the measure affords definite terms and payments that are higher than provided in any other state in the union and that it will do away with the lawyer who in the past has been the only real radicals of the class who advocate keeping up strife between employer and employees be excepted. For these the present laws are bread and meat, because they have accomp- lished more than any other single thing, with the aid of the ambulance chasing lawyers. in making misuniar- standing and grief between employer and employe
 The personal injury lawyer and .he labor radical of the class who wanted statewide strike on May l with which to tie up the copper so vital Co the government and it's allies in the war against the kaiser are, of course. opposed to the proposed compensation measure, because it will kill strife.
 On the farmers end the interest in and favor for the proposed amend ment is due to both fairness toward employer and employe and to realiza- tion that the working of the amend ment would cut down general taxes materially by reducing court expenses. and at the same time free the courts of the congestion which has kept the farmer, business men and cattiemen waiting in line with legitimate Dusi- ness.
 Neither the farmer nor the work man pays any of the cost Of the com pensation provided under the proposed amendment for injuries sustained. the cost of this insurance being carried by the employers, who will save the ex- penses of litigation and dissatisfaction as well as sharing with the farmer and general property owner and mer- chant in saving taxes.
 New Life for Small Enterprises.
 One thing the proposed amendment will Go if adopted will have far-reach- inc raCfllf That iC in capital to undertake the development of new mineral areas, Under the pres ent compensation law and employers liability law the leaser and those of limited means who desire to develop mining properties are confronted with the fact that if they have an accident of even comparatively minor character they may be put out of business and besides this lose every dollar they have. This is the first thing they have put up to them when they try to inter- est needed capital It is a point that has prevented a number of important enterprises being undertaken in the state in the last several years that otherwise might today be turning large payrolls and taxes to general ! channels in the state.
 Outrage Practiced
 The small operator has no way out except that he purchase insurance from regular companies at from four times to eight times what the insur- ance will cost him under the proposed l The latter, in addition. 1 frees him from all responsibility. | which the regular insurance company | does not do. More than that. there are | cases on record where these regular ! companies have made settlements of insurance at trifle of the full amount i provided for. The mine operator has ] gained nothing by this, and the bene- ] ficiary of the workman has suffered | as outrageously as have many Of those who have gone into court with dam l age suits at the behest of personal in | jury lawyers, who have collected from | 50 per cent to all of the awards ob- | tained and put it in their pockets, leav- ! ing the rightful beneficiary to suffer. | The proposed amendment will change | all of this with its state guaranteed | insurance and its guarantee against | the meddling and mulcting of unde- sirable lawyers, agitators and grafters. |