The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-08-18
INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE LAW
An Exposition of the Law BY George A.
Lee, Chairman of the Industrial lnsur-
anCe Commission


Mr.. Lee before the Washington State
Press Association at Hoquiam, August
4, was listened to with very great in
terest by the editors. Mr.. Lee has
made a careful study of the law and his
conclusions are entitled to a careful
reading:
In behalf OF the Industrial Insurance
Commission, l desire to express our
appreciation for this opportunity to
address the Washington State Press
Association upon some phases of what
is perhaps the most important piece OF
constructive legislation that was ever
placed upon the statute books of any
state.
Before discussing in general the In
dustrial Insurance or Workmen's Insur-
ance Act, and in particular that part
relating to the printing industry, l de-
sire to pay tribute to the press of the
State represented here in this associ-
alton.
There is no single influence in the
state of Washington that yields such
far-reaching power for good or for evil
as the state press. Not many years
ago the newspapers OF this state and
country were able only to reach limi-
ted portion of this population, but with
the rapid development of transportation
facilities, the extension of street car
and interurban lines, and the remarka-
BILE expanse OF the rural free delivery
system, the press of the state and ma
ton is now enabled with but little diff
ficulty and delay to reach an over
whelming majority of the American
people. To the average citizen, ex-
tremely engrossed in the affairs of life,
his daily, semi-weekly or weekly news
paper is about the only medium
through and by which he informs him
self of the state and nation.
In view of this situation which no
one can deny, it is therefore apparent
that the public press exerts an infiu-
ence, equalled by no other instrumen-
tality or agency. And Notwithstanding
the fact that the press of the state is
frequently accused of being muck
raking and purchaseable press, never
theless, my observation and experience
in public life, both in large prosecut-
ing attorneys Office, the Attorney
Generals Office OF this state and in this
office, convince me that the average
newspaper man wants to be and is fair
and reasonable. l believe that the
rapid industrial development of this
state and the maintenance of the high
character of our citizenship has been
due in no small degree to the civilizing
and educating influences which you
represent.
Great social, industrial and state pol
icies embodied in legislation, must
stand or fall very largely by the man
ner in which they are received and en-
dorsed by the body of our citizenship.
Ii is not unusual for pioneer and revo-
lutionary legislation, along social, eco
nomic, industrial and humanitarian lines
to be severely arraigned and condemn
ed without thorough investigation OF
critical consideration. The industrial
insurance or workmen's compensation
act recently enacted into law is no ex-
ception. This commission has found
upon frequent visits about the state
that the usual serious objections raised
against this law have no real founda-
ton, and in fact, the majority of cases
are specifically remedied by the law it.
self. Unless the press of the state
together with the people OF the state,
endorse and sustain this legislation, il
must necessarily fall of its own weight
To sustain and endorse it therefore, il
must be founded upon proper, rea-
sonable and sound basis, and reason
ably designed to promote and advance
the industrial and social conditions o
the state. Even a casual survey Of the
law will soon convince the doubtful o.
skeptical critic that the law is designed
to attain this very end. The subjec
of workmen's compensation or indus
trial insurance is perhaps the mos
burning issue OF the day, and one tha
Concluded on inside page)