Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-27
EMPLOYERS And
LABOR ARE NOT
|. VERY FAR APART
Hearings on Amendments to
Law for compensations
Shows Common Ground

II
Proposed amendments to the worh
mans compensation law would raist
insurance costs to the employer go
per cent; would encourage malinger
ing and take away from the employer
and the employe as well the right OF
jury trial, were some Of the arguments
advanced against the bills amendatory
to that law at the hearing before the
judiciary committee OF the house last
night
The proposed amendments would
make the law really workable for the
first time, would give the employed
compensation from the date of an &C
cident, would discourage malingering,
would alleviate hardship, would make
needed provisions for compensation
not now available, would make com
pensation definite and determinable
and would well warrant any additional
cost to the employer, we're some OF
the arguments in favor Of the measure.
Agreements Appear Likely
And at that advocates and oppo-
nents are not very far apart. it deyel-
oped at the hearing and the bill is
likely TO leave the house committee
in form that will be quite acceptable
to both sides. The objections to
changes on the part Of employers
were not so great as had been antici-
pated. They are ready to increase the
amount to be allowed for doctors bills
and the period Of medical attendance
though not to the extent the bill pro-
yides. They are ready TO include "oc-
cupational diseases" II the language Of
the provision be slightly changed to
make the meaning. they claim, more
plain and explicit; they are not I'M
yielding as to the term OF the waiting
period, but they are insistent on the
right OF appeal and trial by jury on
such appeal even IN cases where there
be no fraud.
At the hearing last night Harry E.
Papke opposed any amendments to
the biil am advocated the wiping Of
the law from the statute book, declar-
fng that while 1t was good in theory
II was an absolute failure in practise.
insurance Premiums Higher
The next two speakers dwelt on
the insurance end as affected by the
proposed amendments They said the
proposed increase In medical fees
from $50 to $3.50 and an extension to
60 days OF the term Of service would
mean an increase Of so per cent in
rates, but an increase to 800 and an
extension to 30 days could be oi7en for
no increase. The provision s. 10 oc-
cupafional Diseases would mean an IN.
crease Of 10 per cent In premiums.
Amendments Are Defended
Next w. r. Garden, who drafted the
bin under discussion for the Oahu In
dustrial board, went through the hi
taxing up the proposed amendments
ad serfatin He first took up the mat
ter of the Ibriod Of medical attendance
and the amount 10 be allowed. He
said the period was too short in case
Of major injuries and the allowance
too small In such cases and especially
where operations were required.
As 10 the striking out Of the IA days
waiting period he showed how under
the present law the injured man gets
nothing II laid up for 10 days and only
one days compensation II laid up for
is days. He answered the "malinger-
ing argument by saying that II a man
were laid up for 10 or more days with.
cut compensation there was more rea-
son for him to malinger and delay I'm
getting up In order to get some com
pensation for his illness.
Adjustment Seems Probable
While II was not brought out last
night. II is possible that this matter
may be adjusted by dating back com.
pensation to the day Of the accident
where It is shown that there is an act.
uRl and incapacitating injury from
accident and there has been no pre-.
tense at malingering. Another pos.
sible settlement Is seven-day walt.
ing period.
Garden took MP the matter Of spe-
eific injuries and specific compensa-
tion therefor, Of the right to apply for
committee hearings and the right OF
appeal On this subject he said that
the employer or insurer could appeal
and pay a lawyer. while generally the
Injured party had no money, no com
pensntion until after the appeal, no
way to secure lawyer unless one be
furnished by the accident board. That
he had been attending to such appeal
as part Of his duties to the board
but that such an arrangement was not !
! fair.
Jack Edwardson spoke in favor OF
most Of the. amendments proposed in
me bill under consideration and gave
specific Instances OF good results and
OF poor working Of the law.
Employers Ready to coneede
W. 7. Rawlins then closed the areu. |
ments Tor the evening. In answer to
question from Chairman Andrews he |
said that he represented himself. the |
sugar plantations and the Chamber of |
Commerce. Rawl:ns said employers
objected to the striking out Of wait. |
ing period as it would encourage ma.
lingering. were willing to increase
medical attendance fees to $3.50 but
not to $3.50, and had substitute am-
endment relative to furnishing OF med
ical attendance or selection of physi-
clan. BIZ employer. u
he also had an amendment To the
clause providing compensation for oe.l
cupational diseases. but It was as to
fhc rftbt of appeal that he vac narti-