Denver labor bulletin., 1917-01-20
Amendments to Compen-
SatiOn Act Proposed
Senator De Busk and Representa-
tive Meyer Introduce Labor's
Chief Demands at Thursday
Morning Sessions

Inc Two olIls, one repeating the IN
dustrial commission law, and the other
amending the workingmen's compensa-
tion law, providing for a commission to
administer the law, and other amend
ments providing for increased compen-
sation and a shorter waiting period, as
indorsed by the Joint Legislative Com
mittee, were introduced in the house and
senate on Thursday morning. Senator
DeBusk Of Las Animas county will "a
ther these two bills in the senate, ana
Representative Meyer of Denver Will
sponsor these measures in the lower
house.
In both the senate and house these
bills were referred to the standing com.
mittees on industrial relations.
The two bills introduced in the gen.
eral assembly at the request of the Colo
rado State Federation of Labor, the rail-
road brotherhoods. the Farmers Union,
the Building Trades Council of Denver,
the Trades Assemblies of Denver. Pueblo,
Colorado Springs, Trinidad, Grand juno
tion-in fact, every branch of organized
labor in the state, provides for the re-
peal of the industrial commission act in
its entirety, and amends the working
mems compensation law, the terms of
office, duties and qualifications of mem
bers and salary remaining the same as
far as the compensation act is con-
cerned, and as this is a very important
commission and its duties are growing
in Importance, they will be sufficient to
keep the commission busy
Strike Out Waiting Period.
The rates OF compensation for inju-
res have been grossly inadequate, and
the proposed amendments make them
conform to the minimum of other states
where compensation laws have been in
existence for a longer period and where
they have proven satisfactory. As the
general sentiment is agreed that the
waiting period following an injury
should be reduced TO very short pc
Rod of time, the waiting period in the
amendment is reduced to day after the
injury occurs.
provides that the families OF working.
men living abroad are not entitled to
compensation because of their non-resi-
dence. The amendment provides that
the families of workingmen shall receive
compensation no matter where they re.
side.
The proposed amendment also pro-
vides that the injured workman can
give notice within ninety days instead
OF thirty days as at present.
Organized labor the country over Is
NosoluteAf ana irrecoNablN pledged to
resist to the very utmost any attempt
upon the part of the national govern.
ment or any state to deprive it of its
rights under the constitution of the
United States
Repeal Commission Law.
The thirteenth amendment of the fed
eral constitution provides that no man
shall be deprived of his liberty only a,
punishment for crime and then onIv
after he has been convicted by jury of
peers and found guilty. The labor
movement to a man is solidly behind the
present effort to repeal the industrial
commission law.
This measure has been made bv the
men and women of labor themselves the
paramount issue and this measure is to
be made the test as to whether the ma
Jority party in the twenty-first genera,
assembly is in favor of continuance OF
republican form of government or
whether it stands for the abolition or
those rights which are guaranteed under
the federal constitution as well as the
constitution OF the state OF Colorado.
Colorado Law Goes Farther.
1t must be borne in mind that the
Colorado commission law was fashioned
after the Canadian disputes act, com
monty termed the LemieuN act There il
an essential difference, however in the
two acts, the Colorado law going much
further and covering an almost indefin-
able area in industry. The Canadian
act applies only to public utilities, al
tho the coal mines by an act OF parlia-
nent are brought under the provisions
OF the act as a public utility
1t will be noted that as working
measure Canada has extended the opera
tion OF the LemiueN act to all workers
employed in munition factories and 9th
er manufacturing concerns engaged In
supplying munitions of war Attention
is called to this fact because Colorado,
in its industrial commission statute.
without the necessities arising in a state
OF war. extends its act to cover all in
dutrial activities whatsoever.
HUGE EARNINGS OE STEEr pr AMT,