The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-12-26

men injured or their dependents when
killed. This amount, however, was
paid by only percentage of the EN-
ployers in the state, many of the small
Ter industries carrying no casualty in
surance whatsoever and some of the
more hazardous operations, such as
mining, being unable to secure insur-
ance at any price. This initial cost
did not include retaining fees for legal
services, witness fees, nor the added
burden to the taxpayer in taxation OF
the common law procedure necessary
to handle this ever increasing per-
sonal injury litigation. A conserva-
tive estimate, however, of the entire
expenditure covering all phases of this
subject, could not be less than one
and one-half million dollars per year
Under the new method as adopted in
the State of Washington, employers
pay these premiums to the state, and
a board of three Commissioners con-
stitute a tribunal for the payment of
moneys to those injured while en-
gagged in hazardous work, awards be-
ing made promptly according to law
without effort on the part Of the in
jured workman excepting the filling
of his statement showing that he was
injured while working for his en-
ployer.
In the two years ending October 1,
1913, the state has received in prem
iums, $2,5S4 $3.50, has paid out in
final settlements $1,43S,520.S0, has
paid to dependents of those killed,
S90,59437, with balance in reserve on
approved claims for pension purposes,
of $734, 206.24, leaving working bal
ance in the forty-eight classes of S321,-
217.30 There has been reported 49,
600 accidents to date thus bringing to
the attention of the people of the
state, through this piece of progress
sive legislation, in a comprehensive
and reliable manner, the toll demand
ed by industry for its operation and
the need for education along the lines
of accident prevention such as was
unobtainable under the old casualty
insurance method of doing business.
1t would not be admitted, by those
entrusted with the administering of
such laws, that they were perfect or
even offered all benefits without
some attending drawbacks, but since
it is the intention of such legislation
to prevent economic waste in so far
as it may be done, both physical and
monetary and while of necessity a
few who received larger amounts I'M
der the old law may be required
to accept a lesser sum under state in
surance believing as we do that an
injury to one is the concern of all,
then they must acknowledge that a
greater public good accrues where ev-
cry sufferer received the consideration
that under the law is his due.
The amounts paid may be question
ed as to their sufficiency in many in
stances. but the underlying principle
as to the relative merits of the claim
ants would seem unquestionable.
Many things can be said for and
against any law enacted, be it's pur-
pose ever so altruistic and no doubt
defects will be found in Legislative en-
actments in the future as they have
been in times past, but time and edu-
cation with an intelligent and honest
desire to make perfect that which is
defective, to do justice where Unjust
ice is done, can be brought about by
a cooperation of effort on the part OF
employer and employee alike when they
work to the end that all waste, either
of energy or material, shall be con-
served for the public good.
Workmens Compensation Laws, in
this respect, are exercising a benefit
cial influence by bringing into closer
relationship those men who are doing
the hard, strenuous and necessary
work and we anticipate that with a
proper understanding of what might
be done for the conservation of life
and limb, the time is not far distant
when because of the intense interest
aroused among employers in behalf
of their workmen, accidents will be
reduced to the minimum, necessitat
ing only a small premium rate to pro-
vide ample funds necessary to make
awards and permitting of more ample
allowance where injuries are of a seri-
Gus nature. Then, and then only, can
we measure truthfully and justly the
success of this new, beneficial and
humane system.