The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-12-20
REVIEWS WORK
OF COMMISSION
JOHN WALLACE, MEMBER OF
INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE
COMMISSION, TELLS COUN-
GIL SOME FACTS RELATING
TO INDUSTRY.

Friday nights session of the Trades
Council was particularly enjoyable
and profitable to the delegates and
visitors through the splendid address
by Commissioner John Wallace of the
industrial insurance commission
Brother Wallace, as member of
the commission that framed the law
and later as member of the COM
mission appointed to administer it, has
had exceptional opportunities to OBJ
serve its workings and to discover
any defects that exist, and he has i'm
proved those opportunities to the
limit. The address of Mr.. Wallace
was powerful and logical and those
who were privileged to be present
have clearer understanding of the
provisions of the law than they had
before.
Constant contact with employers of
labor, both large and small, has not
changed his attitude toward labor
problems. While he lays stress on
the fact that it is his duty and his
wish to protect the employers from
any injustices, such as fake claims,
ETC., he never forgets that he is rep
resenting labor on the commission,
that the law was framed to give the
laboring people of the state new
deal, and that any proposed change or
amendment to the law must be con-
sidered in the light of it's bearing on
labor An amendment that will more
fully compensate the worker for in
jury received or tend to reduce the
fatality risk, is, in his opinion, the
only amendment that can be ap-
proved or accepted by the workers.
Mr.. Wallace admitted that the law
was by no means perfect and con-
tended that that could not be expect
ed. 1t was the first one of its kino
and there were no sign posts in the
way of actual experience to guide
/
it. Fundamentally the law is right in
that it compels industry to assume
the cost of industry instead of throw
ing the burden upon the uncertain
machinery of the courts or upon the
shoulders of charity.
Mr. Wallace has caught the true
su;4 IND ~ o1 in o.
clared that if his only duties were to
consist of distributing to the injured
l or their dependents the amounts al
l lowed for injury, he did not wish to
remain on the board. Accident pre-
vention, rather than compensation, is
to his mind the great end to be at
|, tanned Mr. Wallace believes that the
number Of accidents now occurring in
} industry can be reduced fully fifty per
cent by the installation of safety de-
vices, strict inspection, and a mutual
and intelligent study between en-
ployer and employe of the subject OF
accident prevention.
Mr.. Wallace defended the compul-
sory feature of the law. For seven
wears before the law went into effect,
Washington industries paid to the
casualty companies four millions OF
dollars, while during that time less
than one million reached the injured
or dependents. Only one man in ten
that sought damages under the COM
mon law got awards. Under an elect
i've act there is no way to accurately
determine the number of accidents
nor the cost to industry and to society
of accidents and fatalities. Under our
I law the employers are compelled 10
report every accident occurring and
thus we have been able to learn that
I ont of 125,OOO workers coming under
> the law, one man in every ten was IN
iured during the first year of the laws
oneration. Twelve thousand accidents
! wear is too high price to pay tor
} industry and for the first time the
neople of Washington are learning
what industry coStS'
Mr. Wallace said that statisticians
claim that one-third of all accldehts
. ora due to the carelessness OF the
! workman, If that is true, for the sake
! Of the argument, we will admit that
z the workers should bear one-thlrd oi
3 tho loss Fifty cases taken from the
Z rocords abnormal cases, it is true)
Z show a wage loss of $7141.S6; treat
! ,nent cost of $6,7OS.SO; total cost to
Z tho injured of $19,S4516, The awards
Z IN those fifty cases totaled Sz'ooo''o
I E,pbtv-one per cent of the loss was
! TINS horne by the injured. one tnou
< sand cases show wage loss alohe
Z of 100000 with compensation OF pu'
) e99 OO0 Plainly the worker is bearing
x far more than his one-third ana th'
2 rates of compensation should be IN
: oraosed The commission sets asid'
! q pension of twenty dollars a moh.i
Z Cor total disability. This is placed II
! a reserve fund and invested in scnoo
and county bonds at an interest ra''
Of five or six per cent. The fun'
z uama,ns in that manner forever IN
! tact and the pensioner merely draws
J arc interest on the money invested
Z The total disability payment shoulu O'
I increased at least fifty per cent
I The commission has secured WIN