The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-12-16
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1922

with precedent and with the laws,
which governed our forc-fathcrs.
Just as the elementary principles in
the national Constitution go back to
the Magma Charta. so is the Work
mans Compensation Law based, to
some extent, upon the common Jaw.
The developments of the common
law were reviewed. and it was shown
that the Employers Liability Act did
not depart radically from the tenets
Of. the same common law, once an
! efiicacious remedy for litigation in
former times. In essence the present
law specifies that the business must
going to Montpelier TO labor for the
casioned by an accident to an en-
ploYee. Ii was in 1911 that the first
of Workman's Compensation Laws
was enacted, and today such bcnef-
cjal laws are in application in all but
six states in the United States.
Statistics in 1919 show that Is per
cent of the accidents that occurred in
industry in this country we're the &c
suits of a lack of proper mechanical
devices for safeguarding the lives cf
the workers. On the other hand 85
per cent Of the accidents were the
results of carelessness. In the vicinity
Of 700 accidents are reported to the
commissioner of industries each
month 1T Montpelier. Throughout
the country, there is a life lost every
Is minutes as the result OF an acci-
dent in the industrial world, and ev-
cry Is seconds there is Some injury
OF a more or less serious nature.
The Workman's Compensation
Laws are a valuable form of safety
first propaganda, Of advertising
against accident. This matter of
safety-frst in industrial relations re-
solves itself into a matter O. indus
trial Improvement. 1t corresponds
to the rehabilitation of soldiers
wounded in the World War. 1t gives
the victim of accident the opportu-
nifty to earn his living again, and to
retain his self-rcspect, and TO main
tain his courage.
Hon. John S. Buttlcs raped mod
eln economic and social organization
for the greed on the part of the en-
ployer and the selfish determination
on the part Of the employee to extract
the last dollar from his employer.
The spirit Of service must be infu5-
ed into present day industrial rcla-
tions before maximum efficiency can
be obtained in production.
Standardized Roscoe Cowlcs Of
ALBANY spoke briefly but TO tlc
point, as did his colleagues, Senator
elect William w. Blodgctt Of Ncv-
port. MI Blodgett said they were
going to Montpelier to labor for t1c
best interests of the state as whole,
A generous round of applause greeted
the popular Newport Senator-elcct.
Representative George O! Bur,on
of Derry emphasized the spirit of
cooperation which was the central
thought in the words of Mayor G1rd-
ner, in extending his welcome to his
guests. Representatives c. a. Bar-
rows Of Barton pledged his support
to any measure that Mayor Gardner
might introduce for the benefit Of
Orleans County. During the course
of his remarks, Mr.. Barrows explain
ed the functions OF the Barton I'm
provement Club, which correspon Is,
in its duties to the local Chamber of .
Cmmerce.
Previous to the speaking, a fine (
supper was served by the ladies of .
the Congregational church. The Hon. !
Nj. Buttles, himself a connoiseur Of .
good cooking and culinary service .
placed his stamp Of approval on the I
Suppel