The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-02-06
STATECAPITAL
NEWS
v 7T'IF'F-T NUN NFWs ~HfNIce-
FAR-REACHING LEGISLATION.
industr eoard and Workman's Com
pensation Bills Introduced.

industrial Board and Workman's Com
pensation Bills Introduced.
Denver.-The Industrial Commits
sion and workmen's compensation bill,
the most important administration
measure to be presented for considera-
tion by the Twentieth General Assem-
bly,, was introduced in the Senate by
Senator Eaton of Denver. 1t was re-
ferred TO the newly created committee
on industrial relations. OF which Sen
ators Eaton. chairman; Knauss, Lines
and Peterson. all Republicans. and
Hamilton and Pearson. Democrats, are
members
The creation of an Industrial Com
mission to have full authority over
every detail of the relations between
the employer and employe and the
establishment of a schedule OF com.
pensation under which the workman
may benefit without recourse to the
courts, gives the measure the distinc-
ton OF being the most far-reaching
legislation affecting industry ever in
troduced in IA Colorado Legislature. 1t
Is approved by Governor Carlson as
containing within its provisions So
luton for the industrial difficulties
which for the last eighteen months
attracted the eyes OF the whole coun-
try to Colorado.
The essential features of the pro-
posed act are based on the Wisconsin
law, with certain provisions taker
from Industrial Commission and com
pensation laws of other states.
Three members, appointed by the
governor, will comprise the commits
sion if the bill passes in its present
form. In this board of three, two of
whom must be of different political
faith from the third, is vested powers
which make it practically supreme in
laying down the rules and regulations
under which the industries of the
state shall be operated SO far as they
affect the respective rights of the en-
ployer and employe.
The proposed law vests in the COM
mission all the powers, privileges and
authority now exercised by the COM
missioner of labor, deputy labor COM
missioner steam boiler inspector,
Sldlc wal iIiiHe iHSpeCtoi, DOdI u Vi GA
aminers of coal mine inspectors, bu-
reau OF labor statistics, factory in
5pector and. those privileges and
powers of the commissioner of mines
as they concern the relations between
employer and employe. The office of
commissioner of mines (metallif
erous), which is provided for in the
state constitution, cannot be abol-
ished by legislative act.
All laws in conflict with the act so
far as they refer to the departments
affected are abolished, while the com
mission. in addition to taking over the
duties of these departments, is given
the right to take over all employees
If it sees fit.
The compensation act, which in
many particulars, is measure dis
tinct from that creating the Industrial
Commission, will be administered by
the commission. 1t fixes the compen
satioA to be paid to employees for
nearly every conceivable form of in
jury, this compensation being based
on scheduled rates for injuries rang
ing from the most minor to death or
total disability. The question of the
employer or employe coming under
the operation of the law is made op
tional with them, their waving that
right removing them from all its
benefits.