East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-03-20
CALIFORNIA PLEASED
OVER INSURANCE PLAN
STATE COMPENSATION AND
SAFETY ACT WORKS OUT
SATISFACTORILY.
Under Provisions All Wage Farmers
Are Entitled to Per Centage OF
Their Wages If Disabled While on
Duty-Death Benefit Goes to De-
pcndcnts IL He Is Killed.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20.-The
state compensation. insurance and
safety act, effective since January /,
is working oAt satisfactorily. Both
employers and employees are agreed
that cit is one of the best legislative
acts enacted by the johnson admin
istration."
Under its provisions all wage earn
ers. except those engaged in agricul.
tural and kindred pursuits and in
household service are entitled to a
percentage of their wages If disabled
while on duty. II an employe Il kill
cd his dependents are entitled to a
death benefit. In addition the en-
pioyer must supply unlimited mef.-
cal attendance for 80 days after an
accident and pay life pensions to
those permanently and seriously hurt.
In discussing the new law here to-
Gay State Industrial Accident Com
missioner Will ]. French said:
''While its life has been short, the
new situation is working out satisfac-
tori!y. Instead Of uncertainty there
is certainty. Employees, otherwise de-
fenseless, are now protected during
critical period. Employers also are
relieved from the dread OF damage
suits. Their obligation is fixed and
insurance, definite in character, may
he claimed by the employer to meet
the cost. In the majority of f'instances
the employer is adding this cost to
the accident insurance from the wa
ges of their employees. This system
has been generally resisted. Where
the employees are unorganized they
have had little or no redress. Where
they are organized a different status
was presented and the attempts at
reductions have been few and far be-
tween. 1t is certain that this situa
ton will right itself later and that no
charge workingmen and workingwo-
men with the cost The men and
women of labor take all the risks of
industry and when. lives and limbs
are contributed to production, they
should be paid for, exactly as all other
items that enter into cost are includ-
ed.
"One interesting feature of the
first weeks experience with the new
law was the large number of volun-
tary acceptances of compensation
from farmers and fruit growers. These
employers, after ascertaining the pos
sibilities of damage suits under the
Io oil cot IN,
order to be entirely relieved from
suits although exempted by the act.
For a comparative small amount each
farmer and fruit grower can produce
insurance coverage, under compensa-
ton, that is exactly what it should be.
A feature especially gratifying to en-
ployers that is incorporated in the
new law is the section that nullifies
proceedings against the employer II
he carries a regular policy.
"One objection that has been rails
ed to the new law is the cost of in
surance. 1t is true the rates are high
but the opportunities for reductions
are excellent. There is no reliable
data on hand on which to base rates
A years experience VIII help mate
rally. Some lines of business al
ready have experienced reductions
Other changes are in contemplation.
But the one method that will meet
with universay approval is the plan
to lower the rates for each employer
who lessons the hazards in his place
Of business Each safety precaution
will result in credit on the premium
and will thus pay for itself eventual
L.. and, in the meantime, deaths and
accidents to the workers will be pre-
vented. The merit-rating plan which
soon will be installed by both the
state and the private insurance COM
panies, will be the most pronounced
factor in assisting the employer over
what is conceded to be a difficult
part OF the compensation road"