The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-10-01
Under Decision Of The IOSur.
dnCe Commissioner
Which Is To Be CHALLENGED
In The Courts

Columbus, o., Sept. 28-The Ohio
state Industrial commission has taken
up the cudgels for the preservation of
Ohio's workmen's compensation law
against the inroads of the employers
liability insurance companies. ResO-
luton has been passed and sent to the
attorney general asking him to contest
in the courts the decision of State In
surace Commissioner Frank Taggart
which permits the insurance cOmpan-
les to compete with the state insur-
ance fund and which permits them to
insure employers against the results
compliance with state safety regula-
tions.
Ii will be remembered that the ac-
tion of Governor Cox i'm making com
pulsory the state worltmen's cOmpen-
;sation and the barring of the writing
of indemnity insurance for employers
was one of the great planks of opposi-
ton to him and during the campaign
an apparent arrangement was perfect
ed with the forces of the present gov
ernor. The liability companies sup
ported Governor Willis for election
and then sought Immediately to have
their notes paid after Willis was in
augurated This assault on the state
legislature was successfully resisted
and labor forces breathed sigh of
relief until came the ruling of Mr. Tag
gart, Willis appointee. Under this
ruling widest latitude has been given
indemnity and liability companies and
they have begun vigorous campaign
The industrial commission contends
that the ruling Is in strict violation Of
the state compensation act and II Is a
Hat contradiction of ruling of former
attorney general T. $. Hogan. who as
serted that II was against law and
against public policy to permit one to
insure himself against the consequence
es of his own wrongful act
The Ohio Federation OF Labor has
been preparing to bring action to re-
'sist the insurance commissioners rul-
ing and just last week SO decided when
II became apparent that the Willis ad-
ministration was seemingly seeking to
further embarrass the work OF the in
dustrial commission by turning II over
TO the spoilsmen. Labor's intentions
brought action when the industrial
commission, T. j Duffy alone resisting,
complied with the patronage demands
OF the governor. II IL likely now that
the attorneys for the labor interests
will seek to join in any action that may
be brought, and in this matter II is
said they viii be given aid and sue,
cor" by individuals forming the Ohio
Manufacturers Association who are
thoroughly pleased at the situation OF
the past two years,
Suit TO enjoin the contract for auto
mobile tags let TO the Davis Manufac
turing Company Of Akron. without
competitive bid, is threatened by a De
''pih VIM htNh ne SUI
mitted bona fide bid OF i3h cents
per pair The successful contractor is
In reality State Senator Wlckline
who owns the Akron company. aud
who boasted during the legislative ses
sion that no one else could get the
work. The Akron company has the
contract for minimum number OF
10000 pairs at 1917 cents. nearly dou
bile the number OF last year when the
price was 90 cents Tho holder Of the
present contract thls year ON an IN
creased number get the Massachusetts
contract at Is cents. aud bid the same
amount for the Indiana contract. The
fact that the bids we,e barred, that
The successful one "a q state Official
and that the price Is not the lcwcst oh