Iditarod pioneer., 1915-09-25
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WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
 ECHOES
lJuneau Emnire. Aug. l4l

The Iditarod Pioneer harshly condemns the legislature for the passage of the work mems compensation act alleging that the amount of the compensation for Interior miners is too small It also objects be cause benehciaries are limited to near rela tivcs and those dependent upon those in jured Other less important objections are made
 It concludes that because the law was prepared by an attorney for one of the big mining companies something was 'put over on the legislature, and asks for more light on the subject.
 The laymcn supporting the workmens compensation bill before the late legislature did not pretend to claim that it was per feet measure. It was supported because 1t was right in principle, and because any de fleets discovered in its working can be cor rected by the next legislature after their discovery It usually takes several leglSla- lures and several congresses to perfect piece of legislation providing for a change in system of procedure. For instance, the antitrust legislation in the United States is quarter of a century old, yet the last congress found that it could be amended to advantage.
 This must not be construed as admitting that the law is not good in its specific terms. Generally speaking, and as far as vet discoverable the law is regarded as sat isfactory
 The original bill was prepared by attor- neys for the mining companies, it is true, but the Treadwell people have been work ing under workmen's compensation agree ment with their employees for years, and for q decade it had not had personal injury damage suit.
 If the law is not applicable to conditions in the Interior, where the number of men employed by one company is not great 1t would not be difficult for the workingmen 10 elect not to be bound by it, and the next legislature is only two years away
 The Pioneer says, also, that the bill was sprung during the closing days of the legls- latve session. That is not true. The pros and cons of a workmen's compensation act were discussed by members of the leglsIa- ture almost from the first day of the ses- sion, and the bill was presented early enough for many hearings and protracted debate, and it received practically a unanimous vote.
 There was no lobbying for the bill as "lobbying" is understood. The arguments for and against the bill were presented to the legislators in open hearings. It is true, the bill was supported by the managers of the large mining companies. These man. agers are men who have lived in Alaska for many years All of their money Is invested here. They are good citizens of Alaska, whose homes are here and who are devel- oping the territory. They have worked here as emploves under the direction of mine managers, and became mine managers be cause of their efficiency, or because they rec ognized the possibilities of mining proper ties and went out and raised the money to finance their purchase and development. They have worked with their employes" since becoming managers, Their experience has taught them that no law or rule will result to the benefit of employers or em- ployes unless it is satisfactory to majority of both.