Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-19
IBv Ora williams.1

Des Moines June 19.-There has
been an assumption on the part OF
some persons that because of the fail
ure of the legislature last winter 10
consider seriously the Garst plan 1or
state administration of the insurance
funds for compensation of injured
workmen the fight has been won by the
insurance interests. That this is not
true is indicated by the fact that the
state federation of labor has appointed
committee to carry on the fight Tor
O revision of the law so that in the
handling of these funds smaller pro-
portion will so to the insurance COM
panies and correspondinsly more TO the
workmen. Mr.. Urick, state labor COM
missioner spoke at the federation on
this subject and explained some Things
for the benefit of the laboring men.
Il could not stand it, he said, ito see
these workingmen go on in ignorance
of what is being done, and so when
called upon l told them plainly what
is the matter in this compensation SIT
uation They are complaining bitterly
because the new law affords them so
little protection. But significant
thing is that there are more complaints
right now from employers than from
employees as to the way 1t is working
out. The employers are discovering
that their injured employees are not
getting what the law contemplates, and
they complain because they know they
are paying enough money for insur-
ance and the men ought TO get the ben
efit but do not 1t has been demon
strated already that the only way out
o. this is for the state TO take over the
handling of the entire business so as to
remove the commercial aspect and give
the injured men all the benefit Of the
law"
The insurance people, be it recalled,
organized a state association which
brought the necessary political pres
sure TO bear on the legislature SO that
ell bills to affect the workmen's COM
pensation law were killed. Now 1t is
probable the labor interests will take
the lead in a fight TO have the changes
made, and in this it is barely possible
they will have the assistance OF the
employers or a large proportion OF
them.
II is certain that OF the money being
put up for the fund out OF which 10
pay the compensation 70 workmen only
a comparatively small part is coming
back to the employers or their depend
ents.
There has been good deal of ap
parent misunderstanding of the new
law relative 10 state control OF fire in
surance rates. and il is said that there
are a good many of the insurance
agents and others who are still of the
opinion the new Law practically multi
hes the Iowa anticompact law ana
makes combines possible. This is de-
clared not 70 be true. The companies
file their schedules of rates indicating
wha. is the rate or this or that class
Of risks. and they must adhere TO these
rates Now it is argued that they can
all file the same rates and thus main
tain agreed rates. But while they can
file these schedules they dare not enter
into any agreement, written or other
wise, to maintain these rates. But sup
pose new company desires 70 enter
certain field. If its rates are like those
OF al the other companies 1t wi. And
It hard to get any business. II 1t is
really going after business 1t will file
70 its schedules or notice
- discounts and compete OF rates with
other companies. That sort OF compe-
tition is invited and can not be avoided
by any agreement entered into. That
IS competition between companies on
the rate basis. But no one company
can give one rate 10 one insurer and
another to other insurers having the
same class Of risks. That is the
present form of competition, resulting
IN Determinations between persons. So
it is confidently believed by persons
who are primarily interested in good
Insurance al reasonable rates that the
new law will work out for whole
some competition without 6iscrinina-
tons. and II it should turn out dir-
ferently il is pretty certain that there
will be legislation later that will do
something. But the leading insurance
men are showing disposition to CO.
operate heartily with state officials In
having the law applied properly.