The Glasgow courier., 1916-02-11
COMPENSATION LAW IS
A DECIDED SUCCESS


COMPENSATION LAW IS
A DECIDED SUCCESS
Helena, Feb. 6.-The economy with
which the compensation act has been
administered in Montana is shown in
a statement made in letter by the
board addressed to Governor S. V.
Stewart, that it will be able to turn
back at least one-fifth of the $4,000
appropriation made by the legislature
for it's maintenance during the first
two years. Compared with the admin
istration of the compensation act in
81 other states, in no instance does a
similar period covering similar work
amount to less than double the amount
expended in Montana, and in some in
stances, where the population COM
pares with that in Montana, the ex-
penditures have exceeded 10 times
the amount expended in this state
for the same period and the same
work.
Governor Stewart asked for infor-
nation relative to the operation of the
act, and the board, composed of Chair
man E. A. Spriggs, State Auditor
William Heating, and Commissioner
of Labor w. J. Swindlehurst, fur
nished him with the following state
ment:
February 4, 1916.
"Dear Governor Stewart:
"In response to your request Of this
date for brief detailed information
relative to the present status of the
workmen's compensation act, we beg
leave to say that in the seven months
that the law has been in effect, dat
ing from July l last year, II en-
ployers have elected to operate under
plan one of the act, which plan is
generally recognized as meaning self
insurance. OF this number six were
refused admission, due to their in
ability to satisfy the board relative to
their financial responsibility, thus
leaving 65 employers under plan one,
with 21,733 employees. The employ
ers in question, under plan one, have
paid out in compensation and medical
and hospital fees, since July l, $118,-
1868, which has gone to 514. en-
ployes in payment of compensation
for loss of time or earning power and
to % beneficiaries and dependents
who have been paid compensation on
account of the accidental death of
husbands or sons upon whom they
have been depending for support. The
pending claims awaiting settlement
under this plan will aggregate about
$55,OO0, making a total liability for
compensation under plan one, for the
seven months of $173,736.63.
"Plan two of the act provides TO,
the employer insuring his risk with
any insurance company authorized tt
do business in the state. Nine hun
dred and twenty-seven employer
elected this plan, of which 10 wer'
refused admission under plan two, du'
to the fact that the occupation the!
were engaged in was not consideret
hazardous as defined by the act. Thi'
leaves 817 employers, with 4,413 EN-
ployes, net operating under this plal
of the act, who have paid out in com
pensation and medical and hospita
fees, since July /, to injured EN-
ployes, the sum of $9,91O.60, accoun
loss of time or earning power ant
$4O2.24 to beneficiaries and depend
ants account accidental death of hus
band or son. The pending claims un
der this plan approximate abou
$4,000, making total liability unde
this plan to date of $19,312.
"Plan three of the act, general,
known as state insurance, has beel
selected by 204 employers, with 252
employees. In behalf of these employ
ers, operating under this plan, tn
state, through the medium of the in
dustrial accident fund, has paid out il
compensation to injured employees &C
count loss of time and earning power
the sum of $l,O68.83, and for medica
: and hospital attendance the sum o
$59l.65. The pending claims unde
this plan will aggregate about $1,000
making the total liability under thi
plan to date $2,66O.48. AS there hav
been no accidental deaths among tn
employees under plan three, there ha
been nothing paid out to beneficiarie
or dependents. The 204 employers i
question have paid into the industris
accident fund, which at the ration o
compensation that has been paid ou
- snnu