The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-08-04
ACT
FINDS FAVOR
CHAIRMAN GEORGE A. LEE
TELLS SEATTLE CONNER
CIAL CLUB ABOUT TT.
Both Capital and Labor Endorse
Measure in Principle At Least
Law Expected, II Properly Adj
ministered, to Bring About New
Economic and Industrial Era.

Seattle, July 29.-George A. Lee,
chairman of the new industrial COM
mission, which is to administer the
workmen's compensation act passed
by the last legislature, addressed
the members of the Seattle CONNER
cial Club Friday evening.
Chairman Lee said that the visits
of the different members of the COM
mission over the state has con-
WINGED them that an overwhelming
majority of the employers and en-
ployes favor the principle of work
mems compensation, and that wher-
ever there has been criticism or
objection it has been found to be
a misunderstanding of the salient
features of the art.
Sees Spread of Move.
Mr.. Lee said that he would not
claim that the act was perfect, but
that as Washington was the pioneer
state of the Union in enacting COM
pulsory state insurance it was safe
prediction that it would be slow to
correct any of it's deficiencies and
that within ten years every state in
the Union will have compulsory
state insurance in one form or an
other.
General dissatisfaction with the
present system of employers liabil-
1ty was the basis of this legislation
in this state,'' said Mr.. Lee. "The
chief objections which have been
urged not only in this state but
throughout the nation generally,
with the old system, are, First, that
only small proportion of the work
men injured by accidents get COM
pensation, and, as rule, they and
their dependents are forced to a
lower standard of living and often
become burdens upon the state
through public and private charity;
second, the old system is wasteful,
being costly to the employers and
the state, and of small benefit to the
system is slow in operation, involv-
ing great delay in the settlement of
claims; fourth, that the operation of
the old law breeds antagonism be-
tween employers and employees and
is inconsistent with present day in
dustrial conditions.
Remedy Necessity.
"These evils of the old system
became so fragrant and pronounced
that remedial legislation of some
character became necessary.
''The law enacted is designed:
First, to save the tremendous waste
of the present system; second, to
provide an incentive for the proven.
ton of accidents; and, third, to shift
the burden of economic loss from
the workman and his family to the
whole body of consumers, by making
accidents part of the regular cost Of
the industry. Nor is this question
new one in this state alone, because
economists, judges, lawyers, repre-
sentatives of employers, employers
labor leaders, employees and others
are constantly and seriously agitat
ing this question, the nation over, al
this time
New Economic Era.
The Washington act, if properly
administered, Mr.. Lee contended
will bring about new economic ant
Industrial era in the state, will save
the enormous loss of the presen
wasteful and expensive system, will
wonderfully ameliorate the condi
items of workmen and their families
and will produce a better feeling be
tween employer and employees which
can not help but advance the indus
trial progress ofthe state.
]. H. Wallace, another member O
the commission, also explained thu
terms of the new legislation, which
he said, would be found equitable il
all it's provisions.