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

"a GU men nave discovered by this
time that II was a matter OF cheap
politics. and II they have not they
should investigate for themselves
and hnd the Underlying motive for
All this commotion. IT 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
ted express their disapproval to
;E!ef Henry or to me instead OF leav-
Ing us under the impression that the
proposed changes met with their mp
prosal until the bill had been intro
duccd in the legislature and they had
tneir attorneys rails the hue and cry.
They were urged by Chief iHenry
and me to let usrhaye their views.
The next instance was in connec-
ton with the workmen's compensa-
ton law. In 1913 bill was intro
duced ard passed which limited the
premiums of all Industries to one
dollar on the 800 pay roll. an
amount too small for certain claEses
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 staement re-
vealed an unprotected liability in the
coal schedule of s150,000. This
amounts. an amount necessary to
nj nh lfnk III La
called that $2.25 on the 500 pay
roll would be required to take care Of
the compensation fund and make it
a solvent. growing investment. Sure
~ 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 MS n maxi
mum ra:s. would be just seventy-fye
cents less than 1t would actually
cost.
Favors Merit System.
The idea Of corporations carrying
their own risks | 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
20 much the idea OF withdrawing
from the state compensation and the
assumption OF their own Individual
FISK. as 1t was to be assured against
unfair rates. This idea impressed
the legislature and II 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
n position. in cases where in his
Judgment Ii 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
their neighbor. OF course Understand
that physical and other conditions of
tho mine must be taken into consid-
Grafton in applying the merit idea.
but ] am convinced it 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.
Justaified by Records.
| The records OF the operation of
the compensation law up to the pres