coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

48 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
population also, and it is hoped that it will have
an influence for good among them, and tend to
reduce drunkenness, gambling, etc.
We have also planned to build a miners' wash
house but have not yet reached the point of actual
construction; a small park to be used as a general
recreation ground is under consideration. We
have now under construction a hotel to be steam
heated, electrically lighted and equipped with
modern comforts in the way of hot and cold water,
baths, etc.
The company has an industrial accident department
which provides the payment of one-half
wages for not more than two years on account of
accident. This plan also provides for three years'
wages in case of death from accident and a specific
amount for other serious accidents, such as
loss of eye, loss of foot, etc.
All the benefits provided by this plan and all
expenses of its administration are paid by the
Company, except one-half of the disability benefits
during the first 30 days, which is paid out of
a fund to which the employee contributes the nominal
sum of from six to ten cents per month according
to his wages.
Since the inauguration of this plan by the International
Harvester Co.. of which the Wisconsin
Steel Co. is a constituent part, several states have
enacted compensation laws, and in the states of
Illinois and Wisconsin, where such laws have
been enacted and where the harvester company
has industrial plants, the company has filed its
acceptance of these laws and is now operating
under same.
I think I have said enough of Benham, but in
closing I would like to get before this body a
statement concerning this workingmen's compensation
legislation, which is now attracting so much
attention.
The experience of our company has demonstrated
that operation under carefully prepared
compensation laws has a decided tendency to promote
more harmonious relations between the employer
and the employee, reduce personal injury
litigation to a minimum, and
INCREASE EFFICIENCY
to a noticeable extent, as one indirect effect of
compensating for all accidents is an increased effort
on the part of employers to reduce accidents.
These advantages are, of course, aside from the
distress and suffering of the injured employee of
the dependents of those who are fatally injured,
which are to some extent relieved by the compensation,
including necessary medical, surgical and
hospital service provided for under compensation
laws.
The object of so-called workmen's compensation
laws is to provide adequate and definite compensa­
tion to employees who become disabled as a result
of accidental injuries received in the course of
their employment, also to the dependents of employees
who meet with fatal accidents while on
duty. The underlying principle for legislation of
this kind is that an industry should bear the
burden of its industrial accidents in the same way
as it bears the burden of fire insurance and replacement
of machinery and equipment. This
compensation should be provided regardless of
who is to blame for the accident, and practically
all of the compensation laws abolish the usual
common law defenses, namely:
1. That the employee assumed the risk of his
employment.
2. That the accident was due to the negligence
of a fellow servant, or
3. That the accident was due to the contributory
negligence of the injured employee.
Prior to this year, fourteen states enacted workingmen's
compensation laws, including Illinois,
Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio and
Wisconsin. In addition to these laws, the legislatures
of fifteen other states are considering bills
providing for similar laws, a number of which
have passed both houses. Among these states are
Minnesota, Missouri, New York and Pennsylvania.
The compensation laws which have stood the
tests of the highest courts and in practical operation,
include several important provisions, namely:
1. Employers and employees are given the option
of electing to accept or reject the provisions
of the law; if rejected; the employer is not permitted
to plead the common law defenses.
2. A definite and fair schedule of compensation
for certain serious injuries other than death.
3. The creation of an industrial commission or
industrial accident board to administer the law
and to settle all disputes.
4. Payment of compensation to be assured by
requiring the employer to furnish evidence of his
financial ability to meet the obligations of the
law, or on the other hand to require the employer
to insure his liability in some mutual or other
insurance company authorized to do business in
the state.
With a law of this kind you as operators would
know that you would have to pay in ease of certain
accidents,
NO LAWSUITS TO DEFEND,
no liability insurance to carry and at the same
time the welfare, or humanitarian idea, if you will,
is there just the same because the Injured party
would get his benefits and in case of death of
husband and father the wife and children would
get their benefits, without litigation and long
delay, but promptly and at the time when it is
most needed and will be of greatest benefit;