The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-04-18
AS to Compensation is Set tor
iii Detaii by a Writer Tor
Public Benefit. n
m ,yIrltman D. Roherts.J

Public Benefit.
nv Wjrhtman D. Roberts,
fThart was nefhaps no subject be-
fore the recent sessions CT The West
VIRGINIA legislature OF more vital Inn
nor1ance TO the public gen eTal ~, eHl-
pIoyer and wage Garner alike, than
that OF the workmen's compensation
arf For. in one way or another,ttit
affects every bi.eadwinner in the state
-possibly every woman, every Child.
AS its provisions we're ample. as the
fullest possible benefits we're assured
and safeguarded y SO would be its pro-
lection to the heiples sand unfortu-
nate.
Now since legislation Of this kind
Is more or less experimental in this
country, it was felt by those charged
with and responsible for the admins
tration of the coal mining properties
Of the state, that they should be heard
with suggestions, on this subject. All
the more so since these were to pay
by far the greater part OF the money
constituting the workmen's compen-
Eation fund. The state having gone
into it. they themselves being thor-
oughly In sympathy with it, the em-
ployeTs felt that the humane principle
should predominant in any law that
was made, rather than the rigid rules
OF justice and equity. And in order
to insure to its beneficfaries the full
est benefits, they held-and do now
hold the following views on the sub
1ect and made the suggestions as set
out below . Z
Some Suggestions.
First That the law should be as
far as possible removed from the field
OF party politics
sSecond-That the industries OF the
state should be classified accprdin ing
to the degree Of hazards in each, and
q premium rate fixed accordingly,
each class thus bearing the burden
of its own accidents.
sThird--Tha benefits paid from the
fund should be carefully determined
and fixed in amount, and that every.
cent contributed by employers and
wage earners should be paid only to
the wage earners Or their dependents.
Fourth That the prevention Of ac-
Cidents should be encouraged, and that
fraudulent or unjust claims should
be guarded against.
That the fund should be de-
rived from the contributions Of all
parties IN interest rather than from
only a part of them.
4 lAESS NV Lllrl
full consideration of the people Of
West Virginia? Did they commend
themselves to the head of the state
admintstratio who, from the, house
tops. proclaims his devotion to the
1eop1e-tos the orphan, to stlle widow,
TO the unfortunate who may. at any
time. become an object Of the benef-
icient purpose of tie Workmen's COM
pensation fund
Let us see .s~..sg -
Following is: what the mine opera
+ tors suggested and what became law;
First.
Suggested Fund 10 be administered
by non narI1sa nj public service COM
II mission OF TOUR lnrulAcis, enc OF
whom to4be cnange every Two years.
The Law--tsunu administered ny a
single commissioned, appointed by Lne
II governor for a term VI six years, but
remoYalnle ut his pleasure.
s SuggesLeu--Tne lLur. commissioners
to employ actuAI1es, accountants, in
E1ectorS anu ali assls.tlLls, sIlxa IaIe OF
comp ensauon, anu pay ~, warrants
upon the state treasurer, approved
and signedf by lis CHAIRMAN and sec
retary-
The LaWLT,h partisan commission
er may employ an nnllnIlted number
and assistants. fin their compensa-
ton with out limit as TO any individ-
ual, and pay by warrants upon the
q state treasurer, 81 gned and approved
only BY himself. And his Official bond
to secure tho faithful handling Of his
Office and the ono million dollars a
year paid into 1T, is set at Silt, Goo
Suggest hat the state, repre-
senting all the people, as its cont11bu-
tion to the huma nitarian principle in
volved, administ ter the Horkmen.s
compensation fun,
The lajWEighty thousand dollars a
year is appropriated, from the con-
trlbut1ons or E employers and wage
earners ma kingSup the fund for the
salaries and expenses of the commits
sioner's appoint
What does a consideration Of these
three comparisons bring out? Wha
becomes Of the employers wish t
NJ keep the Worhmen's compensation
fund out Of politics? Instead OF liav
ing 1t adm mist cred by a non-partisar
~ n Sg agsEsIE