New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-05-07

ulldDle 10 HIKE muCl inpiSsoioh
on the frequency of accidents until ac-
cident statistics revealed the causes
responsible for the greater number OF
accidents" said Royal Meeker, United
States commissioner of labor statistics.
The analysis by the bureau of labor
statistics Of accidents by length of dis
ability or severity of injury had some
very important results. 1t was found
that some industries and occupations
with high accident frequency rates had
low severity rates. On the other
hand, industries and occupations with
low frequency rates had high severity
rates. 1t was further discovered that
the fatal and more severe accidents
were largely due to faulty layout OF
plants and faulty construction of
equipment.
For instance. blast furnaces former
" contributed very largely to the ia
tai accidents in the manufacture OF
iron and steel. The heavy toll OF
deaths due to blast-furnace accidents
led to improvements in construction by
which "blow-outs'' with their accom-
panying fatalities have been almost
entirely eliminated. These improve
ments in the construction of blast fur
naces were brought about as the result
of the analysis of accident statistics
and the calling of the attention OF
those responsible for the direction OF
industry to the causes of the more Sc
we're accidents.
Cooperation Necessary.
ut is impossible to d~ifferentiate ac-
curately responsibility for accident oc-
c%urrence," said Mr.. Meeker. There
must be the fullest cooperation be-
tween management and men if acct
dents are to be reduced to the IRE
ducible minimum. Workers must be
educated to be careful In doing their
work. The management must be edu-
! Gated to be careful in laying out and
building the plant and equipment TO De
used by the workers. The analysis or
accident statistics made by the United
States bureau of labor statistics indl-
Gates that the education of the work
men may and does result in reducing
very greatly the number of accidents,
especially the minor ones. Ihese
studies indicate with equal precision
that we must depend upon the educa-
ton of employers to bring about any
marked decrease in the severity OF ac-
cidents. Workers car spend all their
time being careful in a badly II
structed, badly equipped plant n yet
be killed or seriously injured by rea-
son of unsafe railroad yards or badly
designed or badly built machines ana
other equipment
The safety movement has gained tre-
mendous impetus. The workers are
being educated Il the gospel of being
careful not merely for their W safe
ty but for the safety of their fellow
workers. Employers are also being
educated to provide safe and sane
workshops and equipment for Their
workers to use. The great need OF
the hour, Mr.. Meeker says, Is more ac-
curate accident statistics and more IN
telligent tabulation and analysis oil
such statistics. Employers have gone
about as far as they can 90 in direct
ing the safety campaign until they can
be given more information about fhe
causes and severity of accidents in in
dustries and occupations tina nave no
vet been included In detailed accident
studies.
FiIipinos Plead for independence.
The Fillpinos are preparing to
renew in an energetic way their
demand for Independence. Their new
appeal Is to be addressed to the peo'
nile of the United States as a whole
and to the national convention of the
two political parties and congress In
particular. A second Independence com
mission has left Manila for the United
States. II is headed by Manuel l.
Ouezon. president of the Philippine
senate. who is well known in the
United States, having been for sly
years resident Philippine commission
or here.
The commission plans TO ask each oi
The old political parties to insert In It's
platform a declaration favorlng indie
pendence. With this end in view thu
commission will he represented before
the platform committees of each ol
the conventions. The commission In
advocating an Independence plank pro
poses 10 lay stress on the fact thai
congress is on record ms saying that Il
favors independence whenever the Fiji
pinos can show that they are main
tanning n stable government. The com
mission is coming prepared to nrgu'
that n stable government, dominated
by the natives. is now being main
tanned. In suppor of this contention
n..r h.