The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-11-19

permit the employees OF the COM
mission to be selected by outsiders,
who know nothing about the needs
of the department and whJ are in
no way responsible for the results.
If we want to get the best service
from the minds and energy of the
m who compose the industrial
commission we must surround them
by conditions that will permit them
to utilize to the best advantage
whatever knowledge and experience
they possess, and to exercise their
best judgement unintimidated by
active or latent threats of removal
from Office unless they submit to
hings which, in their judgment
are detrimental to the efficiency
of the department.
In the matter of intelligence you
delegates who compose this con-
vention are above the average of
the laboring men of this state.
Yet how many of you could today
inspect factory or mine and
point out the dangers of life, limb
and health, and show the employer
how to safeguard his employees
against those dangers? If W are
to continue making progress in the
work of accident prevention we
must have factory, mine and boiler
inspectors who are thoroughly
equipped with the knowledge nee
essary to accomplish the results de-
sired. There is neither wisdom
nor economy in recklessly throw
ing aside the experience acquired
in public service, and if these state
departments under the industrial
commission are to be the spoils of
political contests, ther the life.
limb, health and welfare of the
workers will be the spoils of in
efficient service.
| find fault with no man for ac-
lively participating in the affairs
OF the political party of his choice.
1t is his right as an American citi-
zen to do so; and it is nothing to
his discredit if he exercises that
right. But there are some things
that should be placed above mere
partisan politics; and the humani
tartan work entrusted to the in
dustrial commission is one Of them.
| am not going to take up any
of your time discussing the work
mems compensation law. All that
want to say Isl that since your
last convention, our commission has
passed upon more than seventy FIVE
thousand claims for injury or death
Since the law went into eff -ct we
have paid out about three and one
half million dollars to the victims
of industrial accidents. We now
have a balance in the fund of near
ly three million dollars. Out of
this must be paid the balance of
the compensation yet due in some
of the cases already decided. Our
last financial statement shows that
eighty-seven per cent of the earned
premium collected fully covers all
the losses chargeable to the fund.
While Improvements can be made
in the present workmen's compen-
sation law, | am still of the opinion
that it is the best workmen's com
pensation law that has yet been
passed in any of our states. l am
more convinced than ever that the
great success we have had, thus
far, In the administration of the
state insurance fund, can be made
permanent, providing those Il
their endeavors to administer the
fund on the same principles that
obtain in private principles.
The greatest menace to the state
insurance fund today is the spoil:
system. Ever since the compensa
ton law has been ia effect ia Ohio
that has been the one thing which
the employ ers of the state have
feared; and Ii has been the one
thing in which the enemies of the
law, the insurance men, have placed
their hopes of being able to ulti
mately destroy the state insuranc,
features.
| ai1 not geing to discuss til,
ruling of insurance mmissione
Taggart. You are familiar will
Its contents. But l want to refe