The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-10-14
FARMERS WILL Be
HELPED BY ACT
Member State Accident Commission
Explains Relation of Compen-
sation Act to Farmers.
By Carle Abrams.

Farmers of Oregon are coming to
realize that insurance for their work
men against accident is desirable,
therefore the State Industrial Acct
dent Commission has established
rate for different lines of farming
ing operations under authority of
Section 81 of the amended Act passed
by the last Legislature and which be-
came effective July 1st. The great
interest manifested by farmers Is
shown by the fact that up to date
about 200 farmers have availed them
selves of the benefits of this Act, al
though the Commission has up to
this time been so busy putting into
operation the new amendments to
the law that no effort has been made
to notify farmers of their privileges
to take advantage of the Act. This
information is becoming widely dis
seminated and has caused number
of unfortunate instances in the Com
mission Office during the past few
weeks. In a number of cases men
have been injured on the farm and
the employer has then made appli-
cation to come under the Act and
sent in remittances to cover his pre-
miums with the hope that by so doing
the injured man would be cared for
by the State. This, of course, is i'm
portant as will be realized by all
readers. 1t is similar to insuring
building after the same has been
burned down and then expect to col
lect insurance on the building. Sim
ilarly a great many applications have
come in from farm hands who have
been injured, for benefits under the
Act They thinking that as long as
they have not rejected the Act they
are entitled to its benefits. However,
no protection can be extended to
workmen unless accepted by appli-
cation of the employer.
The rate fixed for farming opera
tions in general farming including
all operations incident thereto, 2 per
cent of tht payroll. Threshing,
clover hulling, hay and straw baling,
4 per cent; prune drying, per cent;
wood cutting, per cent; land clear
ing without blasting BE per cent;
with blasting per cent; read work
per cent.
In addition to the above the en-
ployer is required to collect from the
workmtn and remit with his own con-
tribution one cent a day from each
workman. In computing the amount
due the Commission add $500 per
month for board when the men are
boarded. For instance, farm hand
is paid $4,000 per month and board
and works &c days, his wages would
be $500 per month. The premium
would be per cent of $500 or ST.
10 plus 26 cents to be contributed
by the workman making a total to
be remitted to the Commission of 81,
Sc for the month. This is due and
payable on or before the 15-h Of the
month following that in which the
work is performed.
Those farmers desiring to secure
the protection OF this Act may do so
by making application to the Com
mission for application blanks and a
copy of the law.
The protection afforded to both
employer and workman is absolute.
In case the workman is injured in
the course of his employment, the
Commission will pay all expenses for
doctors bills, hospital bills, medi-
cine, ETC., not exceeding $250.00 and
in addition compensate the workman
for time lost by paying him portion
of his wages, not less than $4,000
per month. Under no circumstances
can he sue the employer for damages
on account of injuries sustained as
the money paid by the Commission is
full compensation under the law for
the injury This insures the en-
ployer absolute protection from DAM
age suits and possibly from court
costs and insures the workmen the
payment of his expenses and money
on which to live while injured
Workingmen' compensation is one OF
the greatest steps in legislation. 1t
is not only protection to the individ-
uals, but it is a protection to society
against injured workmen who might
become public charges and who often
do. 1t is protection to the families
of injured workmen against suffering
and poverty and it is protection tc
the public in the way of taxes, be
cause one of he greatest costs of ouI
system of government is court costs
and one of the greatest forms OF court
costs is personal injury cases. Under
, Oregons present liability laws it has
become comparatively easy for in
jured workmen to secure damages
against employers by bringing suit
: Lastly, state compensation is in