The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-08-21
COMMISSION
ATTACKED
JOHN H. WALLACE MAKES
FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT
OF CAUSES FOR HIS RE
MOVAL FROM INDUSTRIAL
INSURANCE COMMISSION.

! ~ - 4NGALNS-I w
Charging that the other two mem
bers of the Industrial Insurance Com.
mission had attempted to reduce the
operation of the workman's compen-
sation to the basis Of Casualty settle
ments," awarding men what they
could be induced to accept as final
settlement rather than allowing the
full amount under the law, John H
Wallace, lately removed from the com
mission by Governor Lister, gave sen
sational testimony before the Commits
sion on Industrial Relations in Seattle
last week. Mr. Wallace related cir
cgmstantially the circumstances sur
rounding the framing and passage of
the law and its operation since enact
ment He said in part:
"There was one case where a work
man suffered permanent total injury
which entitled him to the maximum
compensation under the law, which is
either a lump sum of $4,000 or $35 a
month. This man has a wife and two
children Mr.. Dagget and I examined
the case together and was astounded
to hear Daggett make this crippled
man the offer to settle his claim for
$500.
another man lost part of his eye
o1I
$525, according to the terms of the
law for the nature of the injury dis
closed upon first examination. His
employer objected A second exami-
nation was made. and this proved that
his injury was worse than had been
discovered at first, and he was entitled
to 1925 more. I said he should get
that extra $225 The commissioners
agreed with me, they said. But when
| looked up the records some time later,
discovered that the injured man re-
ceived $525 I took the matter up
with the commission, and insisted that
the other 1925 be paid And it was.
That man to this day probably does
not know how he got that additional
compensation.
"The commission has taken up the
method of bargaining with injured
workmen, the purpose of which can be
none other than to CHEAPEN THE
INSURANCE FOR THE EMPLOYERS
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORK
MEN.
when the industrial insurance act
was drafted, it was by commission
'of five employers and five laboring
men The First aid" provision was
included in that draft We expected
in good faith that the employers
would carry out their agreement.
They served notice that the first aid"
must be eliminated Speaker Taylor
left his chair to urge its defeat
Speaker Taylor, brother-in-law and
partner of Paul Page one of the en-
ployers who drafted the industrial in.
surance act.
And when the employers come
here and tell you that they favor the
first aid and will at some future time
support it, they don't mean it. They
have already spent more money to de-
feat the first aid initiative bill than it
would cost for several years expert
ence under it,"
Wallace was dismissed by Governor
Lister for alleged "friction" on the
commission and this is Wallace's first
public statement as to the reasons
leading up to such dismissal. A letter
citing concrete instances Of alleged
maladministration on the part Of the
commission was sent by Wallace to
Governor Lister but has never been
made public. This letter was filed
with the Il. s. Commission on Federal
Relations.