The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1917-02-20
FORCED WORKERS
INSURANCE ACT WINS


the Observation-Disclosures work
mems compulsory compensation
act, generally looked upon a:
the labor organizations measur,
this afternoon, following an all
day debate, by a vote of 45 TO 20
AT the same session, and on re-
quest Of its author, Representa-
tive Ernest Anderson of Canyon
county, the house killed, by in
definite postponement, the So
called Anderson elective compen-
satiOn act.
Bitterness crept into the long
debate as it reached a climax Just
before passage of the bill. Rep
resentative Shearer of Nez Perez
county in no uncertain language
declared that the workmen's
compensation represented a
plank in the democratic plat
form, and as such, together with
every other plank nailed into it,
would be enacted into legislation
before the present legislature ad-
journs. The republicans had
charged steam-roller and unfair
tactics on the part Of the demo-
Gratis. In reply Shearer said the
people of the state and not a eau
Gus had bound the democrats to
enact the platform into law.
Hot words flew back and forth
across the house floor. With
the exception of two of their
memberships and Struthers-
both of ShOshOne county. the
democratic majority stood solid
to a man in support Of what was
evidently a caucus Program to
pass one of the two workmen's
compensation acts that original
ed on the majority side, the Bates
bill preferably. KrDs and Stru-
theirs stood out against the latter
measure to the last.
Many republican members who
had vainly tried all day to hold
up the passage of the bill so that
it would be considered Jointly
with the Anderson measure,
which they also tried to save, f.
nally went over to the democrats
on the final roll call and voted,
they explained, for the Bates bill.
not because they favored it, but
because they did not want to go
on record against a workmen's
compensation act.
While the house was debating
the Bates and Anderson bills
there appeared in the senate a
new compensation act backed by
Senator Rockwell OF Blaine coun-
ty, Senator Randall of Nez Perez
and three democrats, Senators
Bradbury, Evans and Harding. It
is an elective act, throwing open
TO employer and employee alike
all sources of compensation. A
commission of three, each COM
missioner assigned to a district,
takes charge of administering it's
terms, at a salary of $4,000 per
annum. For death disability
from S25 to sos monthly is paid
the heirs for a period of seven
years. For total OF partial dis
ability of an employee the rate of
compensation is equal to 65 per
cent of the salary received by the
disabled employee. Employers
may elect what compensation
they desire. State insurance
compensation is provided. The
compensation bill is not to be-
come effective until January 4 ,
1913. An appropriation of Si9,-
0000 is carried to put it into force
and effect. A companion bill,
providing for state insurance,
creates the office of compensa-
ton commissioners to administer
the state insurance, and an ap-
preparation of S25, 900 goes with
the measure. Enough votes are
said to be pledged in the senate
to pass the bill.
Only one bill was introduced in
the house a general deficiency act
carrying a total Of $4,000, the
bulk of which is for the reim-
bursement of the Clearwater,
Occur d'Alene and Pend Oreille
timber protective associations
which put up the money for the
state for protection of its tim
Der.
The senate passed the Randall
bill creating a state board Of &C
countancy, and the Evans meas
ure providing that two courses
shall be offered in common and
independent school districts. The
Curtis bill to name a woman on
the state board Of education was
recommended for passage, pro-
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