The Connecticut labor news., 1921-06-03

Senator Hall of New Britain, himself a manufacturer, led the fight against the adoption of the amendments to the bill and was backed up by Senator Rudd, who took to task several of the supporters of the amendment because they were not manufacturers and couldn't therefore know what they were talking about He referred SarcaStically to one (Senator Bakewell of New Haven) as a teacher j; two (Pickett and Rosenfeld) as lawyers, and another (Bailey) as a probation of fcer and got away with 1t.
 Senators Bal<ewell, Bailey and Pickett went to tlle floor in support of the meast ures as reported by the judiciary commit tee and took some blunt verbal abuse for their attitude. Senator Butler of Mid dletown took a shot at the worker. in general by declaring there Is a general attempt on the part of the laboring ele- ment to abuse the compensation law" Despite their efforts and those of several others, the cards had been stacked against the worker and when the roll was finally called the amendments cutting out the additional benefits to the worker were adopted 20 to 13.-
 The bill was taken from the table, as the order of the day, about an hour after noon, the time 1t was scheduled. Sena- tor Hall of New Britain moved the strik- ing out the provision for an increased rate as at present, 50 per cent.
 Senator Candee of NorWalk occupied the chair during the debate.
 Senator Hall said that, when the origi- nal compensation act was passed, the rate of compensation was fixed at so per cent. as a compromise At present nanufac- turers are being forced to cut down ex- penses on account of the depression. An increase to 65 per cent i'll the rate of compensation would greatly affect the overhead expense of factories and the only way that it could be met by manu- lecturers would be to reduce wages ac- cordingly. He said that the present was poor time to pass legislation that would take money out of the already reduced pay envelopes of the workers.
 Senator Rosenfeld opposed the amend ment. He said most manufacturers carry compensation insurance to cover them.
 Senator Bakewell of New Haven add ed his objection and enumerated states which allow 66 2-3 per cent .compensa- ton. He thought 65 per cent was Justl- fled in Connecticut.
 Senator Clark of Waterbury said the law in the states enumerated did not con- tain the generous provision for medical attention that the Connecticut law pro vided He was inclined to believe, he said, that the amendment was not de- sirable
 Senator Bailey of Danbury said that although the Connecticut Compensation law was originally one of the foremost in the country, it had since fallen far behind He disagreed with Senator Halls statement that the adoption of the o5 per cent rate would have to mean decreases in the pay envelopes of employees.
 Senator Pickett of Waterbury opposed the amendment. He knew of cases where injured workmen have had to endure great hardshipS in order to get along on the 50 Der cent allowance now provided, He had letter from John H. Goss of the Scovill Manufacturing Co. of Water bury which the senator said made 1t clear that MT. Goss had no objection to the 65 per cent rate.
 Senator Trumbull said he believed the present rate equitable. Most manutac- turers wanted to be fair with their em- ployees, he said, and he believed the em- ployees should be fair with their employ CTS. There was the possibility, he said, that if $ per cent were allowed by ths session, it would be subsequently proposed to raise it to 85 per cent or other higher rates He favored the amendment.
 Senator Brooks cited cases where great benefits are being derived by workers un- der the present law. This is not the time to make change he said.
 Senator Clark corrected his previous statement that he opposed the amend ment. He meant to say, he explained, that he was inclined to favor it. He also doubted that Senator Pickett had correct ly interpreted the letter from MT. Goss, as he had similar copy, and did not gain the same idea from it.
 Senator Rudd of Salisbury pointed out that those who had opposed the amend , ment were one probation officer (Balley) two lawyers (Rosenfeld and Pickett) and one educator Professor Bakewelll
 (Continued on Page Eight.)