Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-02-09
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT
Continued from Page one.)

lCOuIlnueu ITOm rage Ou6.D
fined in the act and are designated
the employer and the workmen are
entitled to exemption when the in
dividual employer has to his credit 3
per cent Of his annual pay roll and
no accidents have occurred. Under
Glass B the amount required to be
maintained by the employer in the
accident fund is l Y per cent of the
payroll. This means that when an
employer in Class A shall have oper-
ated his plant without accident for
twelve months and shall then have to
his credit an amount equal to per
cent of his annual payroll, he will
not thereafter be required to make
any further payments to the fund,
either for himself or his men, until
accidents occur. This is true also of
the Class B employer, except that the
latter will be entitled to exemption
when he has to his credit in the ac-
cident fund an amount equal to "
per cent of his annual payroll. No
employer in either class may ever be
called on to pay at a higher rate
than 3 per cent, or for a longer
period than two years on account of
accidents occurring in his own indus
try in any one year. This comes
from the provision of the law that
as to losses occurring in any one year
any excess of 6 per cent of the pay
roll is charged Off"
Employers in any of the hazardous
occupations, who elect not to take ad-
vantage of the act, are deprived of
the common law defences of contribu-
tory negligence, fellow servant liabil-
ity and assumption of risk in any
action for damages by their work
men.
The Oregon law provides a most
liberal schedule of compensation fol-
injured workmen and for the bene.
ficiaries of workmen who lose their
lives in industrial accidents. The
schedule is higher than that of the
Washington law and in addition the
Oregon law provides for first aid tC
injured workmen in an amount moi
TO exceed $3.50 in any one case. The
operation of the first aid provision
will be watched with keen interest
by students of industrial and socia
problems in all parts of the United
States.
In the enactment of this law Ore
gon has not launched its craft upon
an uncharted sea. Every European
country Except Russia and Turkey
and 21 American states have adopted
some form OF compensation.
II is claimed by its friends that
the new law in this state will accom-
plish the following results:
/. Provide certain and definit,
compensation for injured workmen
their widows and orphans.
3. Relieve employers of the dan
ger of bankruptcy as the result Of
excessive verdicts in personal injury
cases.
3. Benefit the general taxpayer
and aid in the administration of jus
tice, % by reducing the volume o.
business to be handled by the courts
and CD by keeping at home severa
hundred thousand dollars annually
now going into the Golfers OF eastern
insurance companies.
4. Bring about improved condi
tions between capital and labor b
eliminating disputes and litigation.
5. Reduce the number of acc
dents by putting a premium on car
and caution by both employer an
employe.
The State Industrial Accident Com
mission, appointed by Governor Wes
to administer the law, Is compose
of c. d. Babcock of Salem. lawyer
formerly a newspaper man; Williar
A. Marshall OF Portland, a vel
known union labor man. and Harve
Beckwith. The commission ha
opened offices at Salem and is prs
pairing for a campaign OF educatio