The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-07-07

increased safety Of industrial opera
tons, sure and certain relief for work
ers injured at hazardous occupations
and their families, elimination of liti-
cation and regulation by state police
powers OF dangerous trades, are some
Of the advantages claimed for the
workman's compensation act, which
will become effective in Washington
on the first day of next October.
The theory of the act, which was
adopted by the last legislature, is
stated In these words:
"The welfare of the state depends
on its industries and even more upon
the welfare of its wage-earners."
All factories, mills and workshops
where machinery is used, come under
the act, as also do foundrles. quarries,
mines, smelters. powder works, brew
cries, elevators, docks, dredges. loun-
dries, printing. engineering, logging
numbering ship-building, railroad and
general building operations, street and
'interurban railroads, electrical, power
and heating plants and steamboats,.
One hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars has been appropriated by the
state to bear the expense Of admins
tering the Law, and Governor Hay has
appointed a commission to have fun
charge Of the industrial insurance
work, including the collection OF prem
iums and the adjustment and settle
ment of claims. The commission,
which is composed of George A. Lee
of Spokane, chairman; c. A. Pratt Of
Tacoma, and J. H. Wallace of Seattle,
has power to create new classes and
establish new rates. Howard L. Hind
ley Of Spokane, is secretary, with
headquarters at Olympia.
The law provides that each indus
TRY in the state shall contribute GER
tain percentage of its payroll to an
accident fund, from which various
sums are paid out for total or part
disability or on death to the family
and dependents of the injured work
Imam, the expense of handling the fund
being borne by the state. Injured
workmen, their families or dependents,
cannot recover by law except where
the injury is caused by the intent of
THE employer, in which case the work
man OF his family may recover not
only the sums due under this act, but
also may sue for any excess of dam
ege. over those amounts.
When a workman is injured because
the employer has neglected to observe
the safeguards required by law or by
the regulations of the department, the
employer must pay so per cent more
than the fixed amounts. Where the
, workman intentionally Injuries him
self he receives no benefit.
The industries of the state are class
flied and certain premiums fixed fol
each class. The employers are re
quired to pay three months premiums
into the state treasury on or before
October i. 1911 After December 81
monthly payments are required; pro
Yided, however, that if any industry
has a sufficient amount on deposit
with the state to take care of its &C
cidents no further payments shall b,
required.
Each industry is responsible onl!
for the accidents occurring in that
class. II IS Intended that the accident
fund shall be neither more or less
than self-supporting. The rates are
subject to readiustment. depending OF
the number Of accidents and the neeC
for compensation Of injured workmen
Employers are required to repor
accidents promptly. and their books
records and pay-rolls must be open fol
inspection by the commission. Re
; fusal TO permit inspection is made q
misdemeanor and the employer also
is penalized 800 for each offense. tc
be collected by action in court and
paid into the accident fund
Misrepresentation in his payroll
makes the employer liable to 10 times
the difference between the correct and
th wrong figures. If the employer re
fuses or fails to pay his monthly as
sessments, q workman injured in hi:
service may sue in the courts with the
employers defenses of %fellow-ser
want" assumption of risk" and con
tributory negligence" abolished.
No part OF the premium can be de
Quoted from the ages of the work
man, the violation by the employer Of
this section Of the law being made .
gross misdemeanor, punishable by one