Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-10-13
FIRST AID BILL
Is DENOUNCED
Statewide Conference of En-
ployers Finds Measure In
furious to the State
BILL IS HASTILY DRAWN
Not Framed so Much to Pro-
tect Worker as to Penalize
the Employer

lhC CuhPlOy ClS VI lAS Otdlc vi
Washington at their statewide con-
ference held last week in Seattle, un-
animously and strongly condemned
Initiative Measure No. 8, generally
known as the First Aid Bill believ-
ing that the provisions it contains
will by no means afford proper and
ample medical attendance for injur-
ed workmen, while at the same time
imposing a wasteful unnecessary and
unbearable burden on the industry Of
the State
Extra hazardous industry in the
State of Washington is today pro-
tected by a state industrial insur-
ance law, known as the Workman's S
Compensation Act. This law is gen.
orally admitted to be more advanced
than similar laws existing in other
states; in fact we are considered as
leaders in this line Of legislation.
1t is a known fact that the en-
ployers of the state were primarily
instrumental in the movement for
such a law and that they are to the
greatest extent responsible for the
existence of the law. The employ
beyond question their advanced posi-
tion on industrial legislation. The
Workman's Compensation Act has
increased the accident insurance
costs of the employers over what
they were before the law existed,
however the employers have been
willing to accept this burden for the
good of the community and in order
to provide speedy and adequate pro-
lection to their injured workmen.
First Aid" or more plainly med
ical attendance" is as important a
question as the question of indus
trial insurance. Any law intended to
provide first aid requires careful
study of the question, not only To-
cally, but as regards it's operation in
other states and if the law is to be
satisfactory to both parties concern
ed, viz: the employer and the en-
sployee, it stands to reason that both
parties should confer together in it's
drafting.
We appeal to the fair minded pub
lie of the State of Washington to
assist us in defeating Initiative No.
9 on election day. November 3rd. mi
tiative No. 8, it is admitted was
hastily drawn by small self-con-
stituted and non-representative COM
mittee without any conferences what
ever with any of the employers to be
affected. It's sponsors have publicly
declared that their purpose in draft
ing this measure was to "penalize the
employers for lack of proper safe
guards against accidents and injur-
ies" They openly admit that it's
provisions are too drastic and will
work a damage on industry but they
assume the power of "penalizing."
Initiative No. 9, has not received
the approval or support of single
manufacturer in the state, neither has
it been able to win the support of a
single student of industrial insurance
and compensation. These are signifi-
cant facts which speak for themselves.
Initiative No. will in our opinion,
prove a detriment to the workingman
whom it supposedly attempts to ben
eft.
We respectfully call the attention
of the voters of the state to the t
that the Hon. Ernest Lister, Cover
nor of the State of Washington, in
addressing the annual meeting of the
lfa Medical Association recently
nj North Yakima, declared that
t.tye No. does not adequately
ur0perly provide medical attend
( e Tor injured workmen and took
occasion to announce that should the
voters defeat this measure he would
un stodiately appoint a commission
properly constituted, Of both employ
er, and employees coming under the
Con lensation Act. This commission
to Immediately enter into the stud,
question and to submit to the
session of Legislature, convent,g or
t..s-y next such provisions for med
icol attendance as in their Judgment
IRE proper and adequate. The pre-
vailing sentiment Of the State Me il
=, Association as expressed at tht
North Yakima meeting, was unquali
fiedly opposed to Initiative No. =, ant
strongly In favor Of the commission
suggested by the governor.
The industrial Insurance CoEmis
sion Of this State, empowered will
the administration Of the Workman