Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-07-22
IN.STATE Of WASHINGTON Is
TO,BE IN EFFECT OCTOBER
|, THIS YEAR.
Workmin's Compensation Act viii
Give Protection TO Employer and En-
ploye-Summary of Act Given Below,
and Should Be Read Carefully by
Everyone.

operations, sure and certain relief for
workers injured at extra hazardous oc-
cupations, and their families and de-
pendents, elimination Of litigation and
consequent saving of retainer s fees and
court expenses, and the 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
October l, 1911.
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.
The new law applies to all factories,
mills and workshops where machinery
is used, also foundries, quarries, mines,
smelters, powder works, breweries, ele-
vators, docks, dredges, laundries, print
ing, engineering, logging, numbering,
ship building, railroad and general
building operations, street and interur-
ban railroads, electrical, power and
heating plants and steamboats,.
One hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars have been appropriated by the
state to bear the expense of admins
tering the law, and Gov. Marion Il. Hay
has appointed commission to have full
charge of the industrial insurance work,
including the collection of premiums
and the adjustment and settlement of
claims The commission, which is com
posed of George A. Lee of Spokane,
representing the legal professions, chair
man; c. A. Pratt of Tacoma, for the
manufacturers and employers, and j. IL.
Wallace of Seattle, for the working
men, has power to create new classes
and establish new rates.
The law provides that each industry
in the state, shall contribute a certain
percentage Of its payroll to an accident
fund, from which various sums are paid
for total or part disability or on death
to the family and dependents of the
injured workman. The expense of hand
ling the fund will be borne by the state.
Injured workmen, their families or de-
pendents cannot recover by law except
where the injury is caused by the in
tent of the employer, in which case the
workman or his family may recover
not only the sums due under the new
law, but also may sue for any excess
Of damage over those amounts.
Where a workman is injured because
the employer has neglected to observe
the safeguards required by law or by
his regulations Of the department, the
employer must pay so per cent more
than the fixed amounts. Should the
workman Intentionally injure himself
he will receive no benefit.
The industries of the state are CLASH
fed and certain premiums fixed for each
class. The employers are required to
pay three months premiums into the
state treasury on or before October l.,
1911 After December 81, monthly pay
ments are required; provided, however,
that if any industry has sufficient
amount on deposit with the state to
take care of its accidents, no further
payments shall be required.
Each industry is responsible only for
the accidents occurring in that class.
1t is intended that the accident fund
shall be neither more nor less than self
supporting The rates are subject to
REIMBURSEMENT, depending on the num-
Der of accidents and the need for com
pensation of injured workmen.
Employers are required to report ac-
cidents promptly, and their books, rec
ords and payrolls must be open for in
spection by the commission. Refusal to
permit inspection is made a misde-
meanor and the employer also is pen
allied 500 for each oifense, to be col
lected by action in court and paid into
the accident fund.
Misrepresentation in his payrolls
makes the employer liable to 10 times
the difference between the correct and
wrong figures. If the employer refuses
or fails to pay his monthly assess
ments, a workman injured in his serv-
ice may sue in the courts with the EN-
ployer S defenses of ffellow servant,
assumption of risk" and "contribu
tory negligence" abolished.
No part of the premium can be de
Quoted from the wages of the work
man, the violation by the employer OF
this section of the law being made O
gross misdemeanor, punishable by one
year in the county jail or by fine OF
$1,000, OF both.
The schedule of payments for vari
Gus injuries is as follows:
In the event of death, expenses Of
burial, SIS; payments to widow or in
valid widower, $50 per month while un
married, $40 in a lump sum on remar
riage Of the widow; for each surviving
child under 16 years, S. per month,
monthly amount limited to $S5; if N
widow or widower survives, $40 pc
month to each child under 16 years
The same rule applies to children VIII
become orphans by death of survivin
parent, with monthly limit of $35. De
pendents will be paid so per cent o