The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-12-12
ALL WORKMEN SHOULD
READ THIS ARTICLE
Aid, Workmen'S Com
pensation and Accident
Prevention Should Receive
a Dignitied Place in La
boris Program. H. ~

II Apth iluilg C1A > " 1i AACH' ~
fort to convince not only the skep-
tic, but even the thoughtful OBJ
server, that the old common law
practice of collecting indemnitics
from industrial accidents through
private controversy with the en-
ployer, was fallacious, fundament-
ally unsound, and wholly inconsist-
ent with our modern industrial sys-
tenn of machine production.
This system was not only repres-
sivc in character, but it held to the
theory of individual responsibility
which aimed to make criminals of
those employers who were convicted
of misdemeanor and paupcr5 of
the injured workmen who failed to
secure indemnities from the courts.
The burden of proof usually rested
with the injured workman and be-
~~1 &c the jury would render favor
able verdict, he was expected to
prove that the owner of the estab
! lishment, or his duly accredited
agent, was himself responsible for
the accident through his failure to
properly observe statutory safety
provisions. On the other hand, if
the employer could show that the
accident was in any way contribut-
ed to by a careless act of either the
injured employee or his fellow
workman, the court usually alb
solved him from personal liability
and thus decided the case against
the workman.
With the enactment of the Work
mems Compensation Laws, this an
tiquated system of individual re-
sponsibility vanished into oblivion,
and new theory came into exist
ence under which was developed
principle of group responsibility for
industrial accidents, together with
more just and equitable plan of
compensating the incapacitated
workman.
The only regrettable feature
about the actual application of the
law is that workmen do not secure
their awards as promptly as desir-
able. and secondly, the medical,
surgical and hospital treatment OF
injured workmen in many respects
does not measure up to the stand
ard contemplated by the law. But
what are most industrial establish
ments doing to facilitate the as
sembling of claims and to remedy
the inadequacy of the medical
treatment? Very little, if anything,
but to severely criticize those who
supervise and administer the act.
If the employer, workman and at
tending physician would discharge
with greater promptness the obli-
CATION that rests with them under
the act, the injured workman would
receive wholesome treatment and
his compensation would be forth
coming with greater promptness,
and to a certain extent the unnec-
essary suffering of his dependents
alleviated.
OF course, TO achieve these results
we must coordinate our forces and
endeavor to lay a permanent foun-
dation for the carrying out of this
work at the point Of operation. For
example, when a workman seeks
employment at any establishment,
he usually proceeds to inquire un-
der what conditions he is to be em-
ployed together with what remun-
Grafton he is to receive for labor
performed. However, he ceases at
that. and if the terms arc agreeable,
he accepts the position and if not,
he proceeds to another establish
ment, Does he ever inquire upon
the acceptance of employment
whether or not his employer pays
his regular premiums into the In
dustrial Insurance Commission, or
whether he would be provided with
adequate medical, hospital and sur
gical treatment such as is contem-
plated by the law, in the event of an
accident, or whether or not the en-
ployer maintains an establishment
first aid and safety committees? OF
course not. Again, how many
workmen actually know that any
person who suffered the loss of eye,
arm or limb since June so, 1917, !
will be once provided with an artl-
ficial substitute at the expense of
the State? Does he ever discuss