Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-04
TUCKER GIVES PRAISE
TO COMPENSATION ACT
Chairman OF State Industrial Board
Points To Advantages OF
Statue.
FURNISHES EMPLOYEES RELIEF,
Declares Law Recognizes Change in
Relations Between WorkElcn and
Employers-Marks Important Step
in Advancement of Conditions.

The workmen's compensation act.
passed by the 1918 session of the Vir-
!. 1913, is likely to prove one of the
most important and far-rcaching
statutes written into the laws of this
mcnt was made here to-day by Il. IL.
Tucker, chairman of the State Indus
trial RI Commission, recently created to
1t is very desirable" the statement
continues. that the people of the State
shall see clearly the meaning and pur-
pose OF the new workmcn's compcnsa-
ton law. The change from the older
common law system of employers
liability TO the system of workmen's
markable transition in the social and
political history of the United States
,ion act to stand the test Of consti-
tuiiona,ity was the New Jersey law
Of 1911. since that time the system
States and Territories. 1t is siCnifi-
cant that none of these states has
shown a tendency to return to the
oder system.
LAW FURNISHES EMPLOYEES,
WITH SPEEDY RELIEF,
The general purposes OF these laws
are. in case OF accident sustained in
tho course OF employment, to furnish
the. injured employee or his family
with sure and speedy relief at the time
when relief is most needed: to pre-
vent accidents in SO far as these can
be prevented in the modern industrial
process, and to reduce the large vol
un.' OF litigation and controversy
hitherto arising out OF industrial ac-
cidents.
Under the older system. with its
resort to lawsuit and trial, there were
many uncertainties, both for the en-
subjec, to long and tedious delays,
cases frequently running on for years.
This process was also expensive. not
only TO employer and employee, but to
the State as well.
The new system attempts to remedy
these defects and to settle cases ariS-
which will conserve the interests OF
employers and employees, and at the
same time rr6teSt the broad interests
lenses OF fellow servants contribu
tory ncgliE"nc, and assumption Of risk
arc ahroSated aud an attempt is made
To brush aside technicalitics and to
make the processes as simple and sum
mary possible. Procedure before
the Virgin IA commission will be in
formal and IL is not too much TO say
that the success Of the commission will
be measured largely by it's ability to
/ adjust differences and settle disputes
without recourse to formal trial.
LAW RECOGNIZES CHANGES
IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
In other words. the law recognizes
the recent industrial changes that
have broken down the old-timc reln-
ton or EMPLOYER and employee. It
risks of industry, unavoidable acct
dents for which neither employer nor
employee is at fault. And finally it
recognizes the fact that the wear and
tear sustained by human beings III
the course of employment. like the
wear and tear Of tools and machinery,
Is legitimate part OF the cost OF pro-
duction. incorporating itself in tho
long run in the price OF the thing pro-
duccd.
The Virginia law represents a long
step in advance. The important thing
lust now is that it he administered
with a firm impartial hand. This tho
commission intends to do in SO far as
II Is in its power 1t intends also to
administer the law with the least dis
turbancc TO industry and the least pos
siblc Inconvenience to the parties con-
ccrned. In this effort the commission
hopes 10 receive the loyal cooperation
of the employers and employees y; the
state