The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-02-22
THE BATES WORKMANS COMPENSATION
BILL FORCED THROUGH BY ALEXANDER
UNDER 1T COMPENSATION BOARD WILL HAVE AuTocRATc
eR-suMMARY SHOWING ITS
UNUSUAL FEATURES.

What is known as the Bates work
mans compensation BILL officially des-
ignated as house bill No. 81, introduce
ed by Bates, Lahobas and Grice, pass
ed the lower house on February II and
is now pending in the senate. While
the bill is commonly understood to
represent the demands of organized
labor it is at the same time being OPP
posed by some of the local organiza :
tons, and outside of the labor leaders
and their followers, the bill Is regard
ed as radical, impractical and unfair
and is generally being opposed by en-
ployers and others throughout the
state whose only concern is to secure
the enactment of just and workable
compensation law.
Governor Alexander is the real pow
err back of the Bates bill, and it is
stated in Boise that he served notice
on democratic representatives that he
would not sign bills which they had
introduced or were especially interest
ed in unless they lined up in support
of the Bates bill, and it is understood
that he has adopted the same method
to force the bill through the senate.
Whether these tactics will be equally
successful in the upper house remains
to be SEEM A bill has been introduced
in the senate by Senator Rockwell
which is framed after the federal COM
pensaton act, and which is regarded
as fair and practical to all concerned.
II is possible that this bill may gain
sufficient support to block the Bates
bill in the senate and result in the ac-
ceptance of a compromise measure by
both houses.
Features Of the Bates Bill.
Provides for compensation of work.
men injured in hazardous industries
and for payment to dependents.
Absolutely controlled by board of
three members appointed by the gov
ernor, one of whom Is to be an en-
pIoyer, one an employe and the third
unidentified who receive $500 annu-
ally each, whose findings are incon-
testable except by an appeal to the
supreme court for a writ of review.
The state guarantees no payments
except from revenue derived from col
lection of assessments levied upon
each industry.
Compensation.
T. that rppnnpnSatlOn
shall be paid from funds collected by
assessment when there is cash on
hand as follows:
IS per cent of average earnings for
life if employee is totally disqualified.
5 per cent additional up to 20 per
cent for each child under IS or for
each invalid child over 49,
Limits from 81 to $12 per week. IL
death occurs within six years: Burial
expense, 800; if widow alone sur
wives, $25 per month; each child, So
per month"; if children alone, $40 per
month; parents, $40 to $40 per month.
Lump sum settlement at option or
board for Disagreement
Partial compensation from 81 per
week to amount equal to weekly earn
ings, solely adjusted by the board.
Medical, surgical, hospital, nurse,
transportation, medicine, crutches ana
apparatus to be given in addition to
compensation.
Fees to be regulated by commits
sion or the board, who will contract
with doctors, nurses and hospitals
and agree upon prices.
Payments by employers to employees
will be deducted from compensation
payable by the board.
Collection from employees by EN-
Movers to maintain compensation
fund. ! cent for each day, payable TO
the board. Deficiencies to be paid by
the employers.
No Restrictions on Board.
The board is empowered to levy as
sessments upon each industry as they
may deem proper:
First-For compensation and pay
ment to dependents.
Second--For medical aid.
Third-For all other amounts pay
able. including administration.
Fourth--For reserve for contingent
fund. J
Fifth-For a reserve for future COM
pensation.
Sixth-For reserve for disasters !
On January /. 1918, one-fourth or all
assessments for the year must be paid, /
after which date payments to be made
monthly quarterly, half yearly, or
otherwise in the discretion of the
board.
On March Of each year all DELI
ciencies must be made good by pay
ments in full for the past year.
When assessments are not paid by
the employer, the attorney general Is
authorized to start suit and force col !
lection by law
Power Of Board Absolute.
In determining the following ques-
tons. the board has absolute power,
subject only to an appeal to the SUI
nreme court for a writ of certiorari:
rx,t,a N, tniy