El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-27
COMPENSATION ACT HAS GOOD POINTS
BUT ALSO HAS SEVERAL BAD FLAWS

n these days preceding the general election in Arizona
there is great agitation the proposed worknen
compensation law initiative measure to be submitted
the voters amendment to the states constitution
The fight is nearly al within the ranks Of organized labor
faction favors the measure but larger faction op-
poses violently When il brought up for discussion
At the recent convention Of the Arizona Federation Of La
Dor endorsement withheld. It rejected BY vote
Of IS to 5
Opposition seems to have been based partly the as
scrtcn that the framed by the corporations
the state assertion which has gone unchanenged,
but which has nothing to do with the merits or otherwise
Of the proposed law Its defendants explain that at one
time joint committee Of employers and labor representa-
tives formed to frame compensation law, but its
work disrupted by changes in the Arizona Federation
Of Labor which also brought about change Of attitude On
the part Of that organization 1ne employers REPRESENTA-
tves then went eed secured copies Of compensation laws
drafted for II other states Texas included and wrote what
they considered stronger law, more favorable to the
working man, than any Of the patterns.
The measure Is new before the voters consideration
Some Of its chief sponsors John l. Donnely former
president Of the Arizona Federation OF Labor; Folsom
Moore organizer for the American Feder=ion Of Labor for
the district of Tucson; state senator William P Mahoney
O. MohaTe county, J. Z. Curry, secretary Of the Arizona
chapter Of the American Mining congress; N Nickerson
manager Of the Saginaw Manstee Lumber company, and
Andrew Kba, president Of the state board Of trade
The present president Of the Arizona Federation of La
boz I ! CToaff and other labor leaders allied with him.
are much opposed to the proposed amendnfnt.
This proposed compensation law cannot be presented
fully account Of its extreme lengths pages Of closely
printed matter-but the following Of its chief
features
It provides for an industrial accident board Of three
members be appointed by the governor with the advice
and consent Of the senate whose term shall be six years
salary $500 year. to administer the industrial acc
dent fund and make awards as circumstances arse
It provides that firms and employees may under the
provisions OF the compensation law stay out they
elect but that if they agree to under it. all other
is waived That is to say, it aims to do away
with the vast pdssna injury litigation which clogs the
courts and Of great expense to taxpayers Par
enthetcay, many lawyers who have been making good
compensation law.
TIE daily wages Of the injured employee at the time Of
his injury shall be taken the basis for compensation
For injury producing total disability 66 2s percent
Of the daily wages at the time Of the injury shall be paid
during the period Of such disability.
For injury producing partial disability, 66 % per
cent OF the difference between the daily wages at the time
Of the injury and his daily earning capacity thereafter in
the employment otherwise shall be paid during the
period Of such disability, subject however to reconsider
alton Of the degree Of such impairment BY the board its
motion, application OF any party interested
Where the injury DEATH 66 % percent Of the
daily wage at the time Of the injury shall be paid to his
beneficiary If any none, then so percent Of the daily
wages at the time Of the injury shall be paid to his major
dependents II any none then 40 percent Of his daily
wages at the time Of the injury shall be paid to his minor
dependents any, such payments in either case to be made
foT period Of 1900 days, but IN TO be less than
5000 OF more than $1,000
There shall be paid addition to other compensation
death within months Of the happening Of the
injury and result thereof the reasonable burial ex
geuses Of the employee not exceeding s125. the en-
pioye leaves benearies major minor dependents
this shall be the only compensation.
Compensation due to beneficares shall be paid the
surviving spouse, any, until his her remarage or
he-e be surviving spouse, If the surviving spouse
reary then such compensation shall be divided equally
among for the benefit of the children Compensation
due major dependents where there be more than one
shall be divided equally among them
There is specified long list Of INJURIES with the com
Feasson be paid for each In each the employee
receive tothrds pay and the time varies with the
verify Of the accident ranging from p days for loss Of part
Of finger to 1850 days for the loss Of above the
elbow All these provisions declared to be much more
liberal than be found in The compensation laws Of
other states.
In addition, employees must be given hospital treatment
al the employers expense and If the employer does not
provide such service when notified the employee may 20