The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-06-28
REPORT OF INDUSTRIAL
INSURANCE COMMISSION
Figures Showing Standing for First
Eight Months of Operation
Summary of Operation

In process OF adjustment. - 1879
Disallowed, suspended and
waived 1,141
Paid into accident fund S640, o51.30
Paid out on claims 216, 435.21
Invested in interest-bea-
ing reserves TO guaran-
tee pensions. ---- lag, 7o6.7o
Net balance in accident
fund .---- 274,719.3o
Gross expense Of commits
sion.- - 78,752.92
Total funds handled by
commission --- 71o,6o4.22
Expense of doing business. II per cent.
Eight months practical administra-
ton Of the workmen's compensation
act of Washington has demonstrated
no new facts not previously noted.
The general resumption OF business
has brought 5000 employers under
the law as against 4,540, reported in
the Review of February 1st, and 1885,
900 employees as against 100000.
Notwithstanding the heavy expense
OF a complete re-audit of employers
payrolls in January, February and
March, and the steady growth in
funds, claims and correspondence, the
gross expense of doing business is still
only i per cent Of total funds handled.
This includes the expeese of Office fix
lures, books, stationery, printed matter,
large filing systems, typewriters, ad-
ding machines, etc., much of which is
in the nature Of permanent equipment.
All expense of administering the law
is borne by the taxpayers Of the state,
not by the listed industries.
Status of Accident Fund
The gross results OF the law from
October /, 1911. to June /, 1912, is
that 640,o51.30 has been contributed
by the hazardous industries to the ac-
cident fund and $500, 231.9l has been
paid out by the Commission to injured
men in cash and invested in bonds to
insure pensions to workmen's widows
and orphans.
The accident fund receipts have
grown from s428,057.42 to $780,
o51.30 the bond reserves to guarantee
pensions from S62,716.35 to $149,-
7o6.7O, and the claims paid from $751;
32o.O8 to $216, 1851. February 1st
showed a net cash balance in the &C
cident fund of $308,011.oo. Not
withstanding the constant drain on this
fund this cash balance still stands at
$274,719.3o. Allowing for the increase
in the bond reserves to guatantee pen
sions, which is $77,079.35, the show
ing is better than four months ago.
These reserves are invested in mu-
nicipal, county and school district
bonds. so that, in place OF sending
hundreds of thousands OF dollars out OF
the state to enrich the eastern share
holders of the casualty companies, this
considerable amount of money, to the
extent of $4,000 so far, stays in
Washington to aid in developing the
country and providing incomes for
pensioners for years to come. Wash
ington, state Of borrowers, depend
emit on the East for capital, will appre-
ciate the stopping of this drain as the
reserve fund increases and the need
for casualty insurance stops.
The monthly average Of accidents
has also increased. Where the aver
age up to February lst was CTS a
month, the average has jumped in four
months to 1878 month. If this aver
age holds good throughout the year,
Washington employers must face the
fact that between 8 and 10 per cent OF
all workmen employed in hazardous in
dustries are being injured every year.
This does not include the operation OF
railroads, excepting logging railroads.
Low Cost TO Employer
Notwithstanding the amount OF mon
ey paid to injured workmen in COM
pensation, the cost to employers in
many cases is less than casualty insu-
rance. In Class 10, lumber mills and
loggers, for instance, employers last
wear paid from $1.35 to $3.50 per
thousand for casualty insurance pro-
lection. So far, it has cost them only
621a cents per thousand for eight
months and the funds shows balance