The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-10

dred men have discovered by this
time that 1t was matter OF cheap
politics. and II they have not they
should Investigate for themselves
and fnd the underlying motive for
all this commotion. II my conclu-
sions on the subject are Incorrect.
why did not the eight or ten promi.
nent coal Operators to whom the pro-
posed new mining law was submit
led express their disapproyal to
ahicf Henry or to me instead OF leav-
Ing us under the impression that the
proposed changes met with their APP
proTal until the bill had been intro
duced In the Legislature and they had
lhelr attorneys rails the hue and cry.
They ~erc urged by Chief Henry
and me to let us have theiI views.
The next instance was in connec-
ton with the workmen's compensa
fion law. In 1913 a bill was intro
duced aid passed which limited the
premiums OF all Industries to one
dollar on the 500 pay roll, an
amount too small for certain classes
OF Industries. and the largest and one
most Interested was the coal indus.
try. This the original bill prepared
by me Indicated, but others insisted
to the contrary. Again. the bill
worked an injustice on other indus
tries and caused them to pay larger
premium than was actually neces-
sary. The actuary's stacment re-
ycalcd an unprotected liability in the
coal schedule of 100000. This
amounts. an amount. necessary TO
take care OF current liabilities. indi-
Gated that 1928 on tho 500 pay
roll would be required to take care OF
the compensation fund and make 1t
ia solvent.growin investment. Sure
! ly no corporation would care to invest
In an insolvent concern, and such was
the position OF some. Notwithstanding
the figures and facts disclosed that
S1.50. which was desired rs q maxi
mum ra;s. would be just seventy-fve
cents less than 1t would actually
cost.
| Aa Favors Merit Systc,m
! The idea Interpretations carrying
their own risks I personally did not
favor, but did favor the merit sys-
TEN, which We have under the new
law. But the position was taken by
the advocates who favored carrying
their own insurance that 1t was not
so much the idea of withdrawing
from the state compensation and the
assumption OF their own individual
risk. as Il was to be assured against
unfair rates. This idea impressed
the Legislature and It was adopted
and not opposed by me-
| thought the merit system the
only possible method to adopt. not for
the purpose OF requiring each indus
try to carry its own Individual bur-
den, but to place the commissioner in
position, in cases where in his
Judgment 1t was justified by reason
OF the fact that as much precaution
had not been taken upon the part
OF some individual operator in the
field IN which he was operating. as
was evidenced by his neighbor in
the effort to reduce accidents by a
systematic safety campaign. to in
crease the rate to be charged against
this class until they had brought
the number Of accidents occurring in
their industry down to that point
which would compare favorably with
theiryneighbor. or course understand
that physical and other conditions of
the mine must be taken into consid-
Grafton in applying the merit idea.
but ] am convinced 1t Is the only way
in which to save the lives and limbs
of the employees and save the industry
needless expense, both highly desir-
able.
JnstaiRed by Records.
The records of the operation Of
the compensation law up to the pres