The Whitefish pilot., 1912-12-12
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
Entered as second-class matter
February 1S, 1904, at the postoffice
at Whitefish, Mont, under the act
Of Congress OF March 3, 1879.
COMPENSATION ACT
FOR MONTANA,

The committee representing the
labor organization of Montana
which has been in session at Butte
drafting a workmen's compensation
act to be presented at the mex. ses-
sion of the legislature has compile
ted its work. The committee, accord
ing to the news from Butte, has
adopted the act now in operation in
the state of Washington, with a few
slight changes.
The Washington law is compul-
sorry alike on the employer and the
employe. The employer has to pay
into the accident fund sum OF mon.
ey based upon percentage of his
payrolls, and the employe must ac-
cept the awards of the commission
allowed for work accidents in lieu
of his right to sue at common law,
subject to- a right of appeal on the
amount awarded
The law specifies what operations
are extra hazardous and come un-
der the act. 1t defines what is a
workshop, mill, quarry, engineering
works, etc. 1t also defines who or
what an employer is, who a work
man is and where he is employed.
1t makes provisions for the wrong
of a third person. It also defines VIII
dependents are and what constitutes
dependence.
The words injury" or injured"
as used in this act refer only to an
inquiry resulting from the contrac-
tion Of disease. 1t gives the rate per
cent to be charged the employer on
his payroll according to the hazard
OF his occupations. 1t provides for
the obtaining OF payrolls. and If
there is aAy shortage OF funds in
any class, how it shall be made
good.
In case of death, there is paid
not to exceed SIS for burial enpense
II the workman leaves a widow or
widower, she is paid during the bal
ance of her unmarried life 5 20 per
month and IS per month for each
child under the age of 16 years but
not exceeding $35 per month; $35
month is the Limit that can be paid
for pensions on any one death. II
the widow remarnies she is paid one
years allowance, or $24O, and her
pension ceases, but the payments to
the children under 16 years go om.
If the workman leaves no widow or
widower. each child under 16 years
is paid $40 per month up to $35. II
the workman leaves no widow, wi
dover or child, but dependents, each
dependant is paid so per cent OF
what she actually received during
the first year preceding the death
of the workman, hut the total pay
ments to all dependants shall net
exceed $40 per month. II the work.
man be under age Of 21, the par
ents are paid $40 per month until |
such time as he would have reach
ed his twenty-first birthday.
When a death occurs, there is
set aside a sufficient sum of money
to meet the pension, but in no case
is more than $4,000 set aside for
any one death. This is based en- the
expectancy of life as fixed by thu
American mortally table that $40
per month to a woman aged 80 will
amount to $4,000. These amounts SO
set aside to meet pensions are de-
Quoted from the accident fund and
are invested by the state treasurer
the same as is the permanent school |
fund. AT the discretion Of the COM
mission all or any part of this $4,-
200 may be converted into lump
sum.