Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02
REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIAL INSURANCE LEGISLATION

tWenty-slX weeks in one year, and a fu.
neral benefit of not more than $50.
Benefits and Their Administration.
The cost of these benefits and theii
administration, amounting to about
per cent of wages, is to be borne two.
fifths by the employe, two-fifths by the
employer and fifth by the state
The employe is asked to contribute be-
cause he is to some degree responsible
for his own i'll health and because he re-
ceives the benefits. The contribution of
the employer is justified on the ground
that illness is, to considerable eXtent,
occupational in origin. The states share
in the joint contribution is justified by
the present cost of sickness to the state
and by its recognized responsibility for
community action to prevent ill health.
1t is believed that this distribution OF
the cost will lead to cooperative action
in health first" campaigns. The admin
istration is to be vested in mutual asso-
Citations OF employees organized according
to localities and trades, and managed
jointly by employers and workers under
the general supervision of state social
insurance commission.
1t is an undisputed dogma that it is
better by far to prevent industrial acct
dent and avoid not only the suffering
and economic loss attendant and the
payment of compensation If the pro-
vision for compensation for occupational
disease will result in appreciable lessen
ing of the volume of disease, as in my
opinion it most assuredly will do. then
another great step by the state has been
taken for the improvement and uplift
of the wage carriers, and, OF course, OF
the people as whole.
Must Be Convinced First.
The next step, payment of sick bene
fits, will be closely associated with botn
tine accident and disease hazards, and
may make for a physically better citi-
zenship. But before assisting common
wealth sick benefit schemes the subject
should be most carefully studied by the
wage earners, especially the organized
wage earners, for in countless instances
the latter have developed methods Of
sick relief that are giving satisfaction,
that are promoters of organization and
binders of the union affiliation. These
may not be abandoned, or at least not
until something as good or better is pro-
posed. and if these funds may be more
and economically admins
tered under state law and supervision,
then we must be well convinced of that
before we assent to the change
An apathetic or tolerant attitude will
not do.
Indeed it would be most dangerous,
for a comatOse condition lends itself to
the prescribing of an Industrial nostrum.
There must be intelligent interest and
keen analysis, not only OF any proposed
state health insurance, but OF any other
statute that effects the wage |
Garner at his work, in his home or as y
,itiZen OF his state or nation.
Administration of Labor Laws.
Then there is the development of CEN
.ering in an industrial commission the |
OF these great and com
labor laws, development |
that carries with it great powers the ex-
,rcise of which affect not only the |
,ctuaI conditions under which men ana |
women work, but the number of hours
hat they may work, and in some in
stances the minimum wage that shall
,e paid.
The industrial commission idea is one
hat may well have the attention OF
hose who toll and who, because of their
locations, come within the jurisdiction
II these commissions, to whom great re.
and discretion and author
ty are delegated. OF one thing we may
Ne assured by our experience, and that
5 that these commissions must be free
# political control and domination, for
/ they may be influenced by the eN-
gencies OF politics then assuredly they
will fail.
! do not for a moment believe that the
will long stand for a state
gency with power to order their eco
omic destinies, whose activities so
losely touch the very life and well-being
+ our industrial population, if that
gency is the creature of political ncces-
ity or may be directed and dominated
y the needs OF the political party that
nay be in power. Such condition
'ould be intolerable. The success of the
commission idea is not any
DO well assured, nor does it make n
eep appeal to the toilers. 1t must win
Is way, and that way must be fairly
lear of party politics.