Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-16
CARE TO PREVENT
ACCIDENTS MEANS
LOWER INSURANCE
Reductions viii Be Granted
to All Farmers Who En-
plOy Safeguards
By earle Abrams.

Since the state industrial accident
commission announced last July that
rate Of 2 per cent had been made for
general farming, and that application
from farmers for the protection Of the
compensation act would be accepted,
several hundred farmers have taken adj
vantage of the act and more farmers
are coming in each day.
The commission has now declared an
exemption of payments for February
and those wno have paid into the fund
for the preceding six months, will have
their insurance carried free during Feb
ruary. A similar exemption was made
last July. This makes two exemptions
for this fiscal year which begins July
], and is reduction in the rate of
16 2-3 per cent.
Those farmers as well as all other
employers working under the act, who
have good accident experience for the
year, requiring the commission to pay
out for accidents to their wOrkmen, not
to exceed so per cent of that employers
contribution, will be granted a reduc.
ton in their rate of 10 per cent. This
will bring the farmers rate down 20
$l.SO on each 800 of payroll. For those
whose accident experience is as good
for the second year, will receive a sec
On9 reduction of 10 per cent in their
rate on July !, 1917, bringing the rate
down to $l.60 on each 800 of pay
roll. These reductions are in addition
to exemptions
The rate for those farmers paying
Q per cent this year is therefore, after
1asltnfipor
of the entire year, $1.667 for each
500 Of payroll. After July /, 1916,
those that earn 10 per cent reduction,
will pay only $3.50, and one year later,
this should be reduced to $l.35, very
low rate indeed, provided the same
monthly exemptions are then possible.
The state contributes sufficient mon
ey to the fund, to pay all expenses of
administering the fund, therefore every
dollar paid by employers and wOrkmen
is available to be paid back to injured
workmen for hospital and medical at
tention and for time lost.
The rate the employers pay, bears a.
direct ratio to the number Of accidents.
There are no leeks, no profits and no
commissions to pay. Accidents only are
paid for. Reduce tne number of aeei-
dents and the rate of payment to the
fund will be reduced by additional ex-
emptions.
The records of this commission show
that last year one of each eight work.
men employed in hazardous occupations
in Oregon, were injured.
This is too high percentage. By
cooperation Of employers and work.
men to prevent accidents the commits
sion believes that the number Of in
juries can be cut in half.
That means eating the rate in half,
by reductions and exemptions, and the
farmer would then be paying less than
per cent. No farmer in Oregon can
afford to carry the risk of injuring or
killing workmen, when he can thus re-
ceive insurance with the absolute pro-
lection of the state, at actual cost, and
be given also the opportunity of con-
stantly reducing his rate.
In view of the above, the commits
sion has issued call to employers and
workmen of Oregon, to cooperate in al
movement to prevent accidents and will
conduct an active campaign Of accident
prevention. The results desired can on
ly be accomplished by cooperation Of
both employers and worlSmen with the
state and will result in q vast saving
in money, and an increase in efficiency
of manufacturing and other operations
through preventing loss of time and the
necessity of replacing injured work.
men who are experienced, with inexper-
fenced men. What is more importantI
still, it will prevent untold sufferingl
to the thousands Of workmen who are
now annually torn and mangled, many
of them made wrecks for life, while
toiling to earn their daily bread.