The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-02-05
THE MAIN FEATURES
/. OF COMPENSATION BILL
THE MEASURE AGREED UPON
SEEMS SATISFACTORY TO
ALL CONCERNED.

The main features of the workmen's
compensation bill as finally agreed up
IN by the commission appointed by
Governor Haines to frame bill to he
submitted to the next legislature VIII
be found briefly stated in the follow
ing statement issued by A. II. Conner,
secretary of the commission, upon his
return from Boise:
II might briefly outline the bill
which we have agreed upon. 1t is
elective in theory, but as a matter or
fact will be compulsory. In other
words the employer and employe may
or may not elect to come under the
law. If they do not come under the
law the rights and defenses they have
in litigation under the law as 1t is at
present will be taken away and this
WILL I believe, compel every employer
and employee in the state engaged in
hazardous occupations to come under
the provisions of the law.
Three Plans for Employer.
'"The law provides schedule of pay
ments to be made, the amount to be
paid depending upon the nature and
permanency of the injury. Three plans
are held out to the employer, under
which this compensation may be paid.
Plan No. l permits him to handle it
himself under mutual agreement with
his employee provided that his financial
condition and the plan adopted meets
which will have charge of the operation
of the act. Plan No. permits those
employees who care to do so and whose
financial status may not have met with
the approval Of the state board to in
sure their risk with some approved
casualty insurance company. The
third plan permits the employer to in
sure with the state under system in
many respects similar to the one in
Washington but with this difference
that the money which the state re-
ceives as premiums from each class of
industries in the state will be paid in
to one fund instead of into 40 or so
different funds as they do in Wash
ington.
Factory Inspection Feature.
"The first and primary feature of the
act, however, is that which relates to
the prevention of accidents and we
have resolved that this is the most
important thing. An inspection law
is included which will provide for the
of all factories, plants and
which come under the
provisions of the bill This is carry
ing out the safety first idea which
has been agitated so much during the
last year or so, the theory of which is
that If we could prevent all accidents
there would be no necessity for a
bill. This bill properly
will conserve life and
limb and in cases where an accident
does occur the injured one or his de-
pendents will receive compensation
regardless of the question of negli-
gence.
"As l said before the commission
feels highly gratifed at the reception
which has been accorded our efforts.
We have devoted a great deal of time
and have gone to a great deal of per-
sonal expense in order to get sat-
bill.
ut is impossible in a short inter-
view to even touch upon the main
features of the proposed law but l
expect sometime in the near future
20 write series Of articles upon the
various phases Of the subject in de-
.ai and these articles will be pub
ished from time to time in the pa
oers of the state. This will be done
'or the purpose of educating the
people Of the state who are unfamil-
ar with the subject so that they may
ntelligently approve or condemn the
oil which we will submit to the next
legislature. The commission has de-
,ided not to have any more public |
meetings.; we will probably have at
east one and maybe two more meet |
ngs for the purpose of going over the !
dill in detail and to approve the re-
BORT to accompany It, A bill such as
We propose is particularly interesting
% northern Idaho, as over 60 per cent
If the pay roll which will be affected
viii be found in the mining and lum-
Ter industries"