East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-10-18
(By earle Abrams, State Industrial
Accidauf ron, r,iqrfo1,arN


Accident Commissioner
Farmers Of oregon are coming to
realize that insurance for their
workmen against accident is desir-
able, therefore the State Industrial
Accident Commission has established
rate for different lines of farming
operations under authority Of Sec
ton 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
themselves OF the benefits Of this act,
although 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 privilege
TO take advantage OF the act. This
information is becoming widely dis,
seminated and has caused a number
Of unfortunate instances in the com.
mission office during tn pas. 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
premiums with the hope that by so
doing the injured man would be
cared for by the state.
This, of course, is important as
will be realized by all dealers 1t is /
similar to insuring a building after
the same has been burned down and
then xpect to collect insurance On /
the building Similarly 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 pro-
lection can be extended 10 workmen
unless accepted by application of the
employer.
The rate fixed for farming opera.
tons is general farming including
all operations incident thereto , per
cent of the payroll. Threshing.
clover hulling, hay and straw baling,
4 pr cent; prune drying. ! per cent;
wood cutting, 8 per cent; land clear.
ing without blasting 1-2 per cent;
with blasting. per cent; road wOrS
9 per cent.
In addition to the above the em-
ployer is required to collect from the
workmen and remit with his own
one cent day from
each workman. In computing the
amount due the commission add SIS
per month for board when the men
are boarded. For instance, a farm
hand is paid $40 per month and bodrG
and works Is days. his wages would
be S55 per month. The premium
would be > per cent Of S55. or Sl.l0 :
plus 26 cents 10 be contributed by
the workmen, making a total amount
TO be remitted to the commission OF.
s1.3G for the month.
This is due and payable on or he
fore the 18th OF the month following
that in which the work is perform
ed.
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
,opy OF the law.
The protection afforded 60 both
employer and workman is absolute
In case the workman is injured in
he course of his employment. the
commission will pay all expenses ior
doctors bills hospitai bills, medicine
etc, not exceeding $3.50 and in addi-
ion compensate the workman for
lime lost by paying him a portion Of
his wages, not less than $50 per
month Under no circumstances can
he sue the employer for damages or
account OF injuries sustained as the
money paid by the commission is full
under the law for the
injury This insures the employer
absolute protection from damage
suits and possibly from court costs
md insures the workmen Of the pay
nent OF his expenses and money on
which to live while injured, Work.
ngmen's compensation Is one OF the