Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-26

the governor was issued there have
been reductions In the rates, and the
insurance people claim there was no
relationship between the agitation In
this state and these reductions. The
fact remains. however. that the re-
auctions followed very closely after
the agitation While demanding the
right to exercise what ! regard as a
governmental function. the levying
of tax on the industries OF the state,
the insurance companies do not ade-
quately meet the situation.
Old Rate withdrawn.
when the manual Of rates for
Iowa was first issued they made a
rate OF 61s per cent on mine operators.
This was thought by the operators to
be so grossly In excess of fair rate
that they in spite OF, the fact that
they would lose their common law
defenses. refused to come under the
law, saying that the rate was pro-
hibitive. The insurance people have
since. withdrawn this rate so as l
understand it, the men who are OPP
posing an employers fund, have re-
fused while demanding right to do
business in the. state. reasonable
and fair protection for the employers.
Another proposition in my mind re-
pugnant to public policy is that of
fixing a grossly unfair minimum
rate. Originally the bureau COM
panies announced minimum fee Of
$25 for Iowa, but after protests by
my department.. and the commits
sioner of insurance. it was reduced.
The Travellers company in their "e-
ply to my report say in states where
they have control they put in the
minimum at $40 and presumably
they will do the same for Iowa. Under
state funds there is virtually no
minimum a man can buy 81 worth OF
insurance if that is ali he needs
Under the scheme of a compensa-
ton fund where the expenses are paid
by the state. feel sure the cost to
the employer can be materially re-
duced and az the same time the amount
paid the injured employee can be ma
terially increased. Ny judgment is
that the rate of compensation should
be increased from so to 60 per cent,
with a maximum Of $3.50 per week,
and the waiting period reduced from
fourteen days to seven days. This is
an increase that should be made in the
interest of justice, the present rate be-
ing inadequate and unfair.
No Alarm Over Socialism.
"The world 'socialistic' is not as
alarming as 1t used to be. When our
insurance friends use it they must
expect people to look into the par
ticular matter. Lewis. in his work,
on state insurance, truly says: All
insurance is in its nature socialistic'
and goes on to show that this is
necessarily the case where the heavy
loss of one is taken up and spread
as light loss over number, adding:
Society or definite section or stratum
Of society carries a burden in behalf
of its members which the individual
components can not carry Stock
company insurance men ought to be
the last to denounce anything socialis-
tic. Socialism is the foundation OF
their business.
Il have recently received a No
vember bulletin which an indemnity
concern sent a policyholder with re-
quest to file with his policy. In it
is said: Physical examination and
refusal to employ the partially inca
FACILITATED have become imperative in
many industries. Pensioners who
thru age or injury have outgrown their
usefulness and whose physical condi-
ton. constitutes menace to employ
ment under the present laws are be-
ing let co. .y
|. No such complaint is heard UNI
der the state fund system anywhere