Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-11-01
tEC|SLAT|NG AGAINST
THE UTAH FARMER
Proposed Plan to Have State MonopoI.
ize the Workmen's Compensation
Business Against the Best
Interests Of the People.

Appeals are Hiding made to taxpay-
ers throughout rhe state to take up
campaign against the proposed plan
TO have the state monopolize the
Workmen's Compensation business of
the state and exclude all private com.
panles from operating here. Business
men generally are strongly opposed 10
the plan as being not only against tho
best interests of the people and bust
ness interests generally, hut also M
being extremely dangerous in prin-
ciple. 1t Is pointed out that other
states have had disastrous experiences
with the plan and that at present two
states, West Virginia and Washington.
nave deficits in excess OF SJOO,OOO as
q result of their experiences.
The funds of the state, available for
carrying on the insurance business. 1t
is urged, are not sufficient TO provide
adequate safeguards against disaster,
either 10 workmen, employers or the
state itself. The statement Is made
that such disaster as that which oc-
Cured at Scofield Il few years ago
would not only bankrupt the present
state insurance fund, but would also
leave an enormous debt for someone
to pay. In addition there would be a
great hardship worked on the widows
and orphans of the killed and injured
men while funds were being gathered
from some source to pay the claims If
1t were found possible to raise such
funds. The state itself assumes no
responsibility for paying such claims,
and when the insurance fund Is eX-
hausted some other way, not explained
In the new plan, must be found 10
meet the debt. One single company
now insuring workmen IN ttah mas
assets more than n hundred times me
amount of the state insurance fund'
and as all companies are compelled by
law TO sell insurance at the same rate
as the state charges and TO give eN-
actly the same benefits the state gives
those who have studied the matter see
great disadvantage to all concerned
Prominent people In the agricultural
sections are becoming aroused to the
situation as they begin to realize that
although farmers are not Denenteu On
concerned in any way in workmen'S
compensation insurance, as farms ahc
small businesses are not covered by
the law, the expenses OF conducting
the business are paid out of genera
taxes, ms lneuuS tnhl ~ "hH''"' -
to benefit by the plan they are to Do
benefited at the expense of the tsr
mer.
AS the scheme, If it is extended TO In
clude all the business in this class be
ing done in the state, will greatly IN
crease the expenses of operations II
salaries, office expenses, travelling ex
pense, etc, to be paid out OF genera
taxes and ut the same time depriv
the state of the revenue now comm
from the taxes paid by the insuranc
companies, It is considered inevitaDl
Unit state taxes must be increased
Prominent farmers have espresso
themselves as being emphatically OF
posed TO the plan, rs IL VIII impos
additional tax burdens upon farmer
who are already heavily taxed VIII
On, giving them any benefits whats'
ever in return.
The Democratic party has been II
duccd TO insert. n plank IN the s'"'