The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-04-18


stonert accountable only to himself
for hts acIss IN office, and only "a the
governor for his continuance III Office.
The employers took the ground that
wpTkMen, or their depend ents. 1lnfor-
tunateFenouEh. to be ths.yicttmssof in
dustrial accidents might beco,ne+swards
OF the state or charges upon the gen
eral community, unless provided for
by such a law as is now under dis
cusston- And that, therefore, the state
ought to make its contribution to a
common cause by administering the
fund, " thout charge against the con-
tributions Of employers and wage
earners composing It, and which alone
make 1a i up.
In Partisan Hunls.
Instead of the administration Of the
fund being in the hands of a non-par-
l-tisan public service commits sion, com
posed OF four MEMBERS one of whom
retiring every two years. body
which could never he Nominated or
controlled by any single state admin
istration, 1t is placed reservedly in
the hands OF a partisan Fappotntee
4 with six years in ottlce-with limit
| less powers. For he can appoint
as many actuaries, accountants. in
II 9RVNLp4o a44A3 kdltLSs as AG WALLS
to appoint, as far as the $4,000 a
year will permit. All OF them, If he
elects, may be chosen for their known
/ fidelity to certain candidates, or poll
cies, favored by him, and for their
value as workers In primaries or
reflections. And who can estimate the
extent of the political activities Of an
unlimited number OF. travelling inspec-
tors throughout the state, all inspired
and controlled by the Commissioners
and his appointor? And instead OF
the state, through this non-partisan
commission administering this fund,
this single commissioners given $780,
900 q year to do SO. For what pur-
poses was this nefarious change made
from a .non-partisan, semi-perma-
nent commission to a single commits
sloner? Economy has been claimed
for It. Wherein lies the economy? 1t
IS difficult to see how commission
! OF four members at sc, 900 year sal
airy each, or S24 900 in all, is more q
burden to the tax payers of the state
than will be three of these still in
the public service commission at the
same salary per year, or 1000 and
compensation commissioner draw
ing $1,000 a year. Is not the total ex-
pense for salaries still $4,000 a year?
Further, Is not this still a charge
AGAINST the tax payers? Does 1t make
any difference to employers and wage
earneES, who pay their premiums to
the fund? Does this change from a
Inon-parttsan commission to a single
commissioners have for its object in
creased efficiency? Let us see:
The amount Of money handled will
not be decreased
The cost Of collecting will not be
decreased.
The number OF accidents viii not
be decreased.
The cost Of investigating will not
be decreased n " Nj
VIII the clerical work be reduced
By the change? Certainly not. On
i the contrary. Is it not likely to be
increased I? Two separate depart
ments are created, each with full
complement Of clerks, etc. Hereto
tore these We're the employees of the
entire commission and as such avail
able for the work of the commission.
whether connected with the compen-
Esation fund or other matters.
Means Increased Expense.
And. meanwhile, the whole, big,
4 phi lanthropic purpose Is left to the
Il Judgment ofsOne man instead Of four!
Int may be answered tot5tf, l. All, IL =. Z
old non-na11isan crn1r1fss: ~, ,7<.ia.
gated to one of its member the hand
1 ling OF this fund, and this is doubt
Hess true: bnt even i - hS1e co,,,.
mission vas nevertheless rasJ 4. ;,,1.
for the stra +inn. 80 y, = 800
and eyervtilinr conn 81 ~ Nth - AnI
every person a.prriavafI ~ Me sc+ia,,
be lie 4 "a T. :,
the right of annea1 th c1,n,1,,,
to fonr iIIdp1n1 ,,5sfesI 81,
one These II. III n Is =,
should satfaf ~ ~; ! ~; 3, Il IA, =
Eon tf,af q, !, "a -,
more acnn1sr, &. 80 S: = J
M ,1,;'S II, - ~ - +s,,
= - s..e
md the f,fs NJ ], ,..
s1n,s ~ ,,,onss, ~. y 20,
- q -
Ne = <1sLd s.
tna ~,