The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-02-10

standlng as to the provisions or
meaning of the law.
1t is possible that it is costing the
employers little more under the
Compensation Act than it did under
the old liability system, but all of
the large employers have advised
the board that the new plan is much
more satisfactory than the old meth
cd that was employed, because the
middleman, or ambulance chaser"
is entirely eliminated under the new
order of things and further that
what they pay out goes direct to
their injured employees, with the
inevitable result that better feel
ing and closer relationship has come
into eXstance between the employ
er and the employee. The new order
of things has resulted in many econ
omies, not the least of which is the
saving brought about in the time of
the courts, which under the old or
der of things devoted nearly one
fourth of their time to liability
cases. In addition to the business
aspect of the proposition, the hui
| manltarian side is entitled to much
consideration. The actual records
show that the Safety First Habit"
| has taken firm hold all over the
state, with the inevitable result
that the happening Of industrial ac-
cidents is rapidly on the decline.
This fact is amply evidenced by the
record under plan 3. The act pro-
vides for an initial assessment to be
levied on all employers coming un-
der the law, of one-fourth of the
yearly payroll. This initial assess
ment representing three months, is
the only assessment levied in the
year that represents more than one
calendar month, all other assess
ments being for only one month
AS provided by the law, this initial
assessme nt was made covering the
months Of July, August and Septem-
Der. Then no assessment was made
for the months of October, Novem-
Der and only out of an abundance of
preoaution was it deemed proper
and wise to levy one, for the month
of December. The Industrial Acct
dent Fund really did not require it.
This ell indicates that the iegisla-
ture. basing their action on the eX-
perience of other states, operating
under workmen's compensation laws
expected that the payment Of COM
PS1'h@tthio1I Woali CACCSu what lllt
actual facts show since the law went
into effect. 1t is, of course. too soon
to prognosticate on the future, based
upon the past, but it is certain that
the record which has been made
since the law went into effect is the
only thing that we can have to go
by, uncertain as it may be.
The board has been particularly
fortunate in not having any of it's
rulings appealed from, with the ex-
ception of the two friendly cases
brought in the name of Lewis and
Clark county, and in the name of the
City of Butte, to secure the inter-
probation of the supreme court on
two sections. The Lewis and Clark
county case was decided by the SUI
preme court on January 9th, by af-
firming the judgment of the district
court, ordering the admission of the
County of Lewis and Clark under
the law The Butte city case has
been set by the supreme court for
Feb. 9th. AS soon as the court
hands down a decision in this case
the board will be in position to
promptly take up and settle the
status, under the law, of all public
corporations in the state.
The work of safety inspection of
all industrial plants in the state, en-
ploying labor in hazardous occupa-
tions, is going forward comprehens-
lively as provided by the act The
assistance rendered in this work by
the inspectors of the Departments of
Quartz Mine, Coal Mine, Dairy,
Grain, Boiler and Weights and
Measures inspection, has been
great advantage both from the
standpoint of the thoroughness OF
the inspection and the economy at
tending the same. So far 412
plants have been inspected and
many recommendations made look
ing toward the safety of the employ
ees connected Herewith. In only
one instance has an employer OBJ
jected or demurred in any way to
the prompt and immediate install
alton of the safety devices recon-
mended. The fees so far collected
account this inspection amount to
$1454.93, with $l1O0 in collections
pending, making q total realized
from inspections Of $2554.
The total administrative expense
OF all kinds, including salaries,
printing, supplies and all other ex-
penses attending the organization of
the board and the administration OF
the law, since the approval Of the
act on March s, 19l5,is $16.520O7,
which, If you have time to compare,
with the administrative expenses at
tending the organization and admin
!sfration OF the compensation act in
any one OF the thirty-one states now
operating under a compensation law
you will find that in no instance
does a similar period covering SIM
liar work, amount to less than
double the amount We have expend-
ed and in some instances where the
population compares to ours, the ex-
penditures have exceeded ten times
that amount, for the same period
and the same work
The members of the board have at
all times been governed by your
strict admonition and positiv, in
structions to practice economy in