The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-11-01
REF|T MANNED IS
PLEA OF SPR|GCS
CHAIRMAN OF ACCIDENT BOARD
WANTS VOCATIONAL REHA-
BILfTATioN INSTITUTION
NEWS OF THE CAPITAL CITY
Montana Men in Army and Navy Have
Until One Year After War is
Ended in Which to Pay
Their Taxes

Helena.-In the third annual repor
Of the industrial accident board rela
tive to. the operation of the workmen
compensation law in Montana, Chair
man A. e. Spriggs voices the need o.
vocational rehabilitation institution
where permanently crippled Montana
workmen could be refitted for earning
their own living. He suggests thai
Fort Harrison or Fort Missoula would
make ideal plants for such work and
states his belief that one could be
secured from the government to be
used for that purpose.
In Montana during the past three
years the report states there have
been more than 10000 Industrial acct
dents of which number 474 victims
were permanently crippled. OF this
number, less than One-fourth are now
doing anything towards making liv-
ing. The others are living on their
monthly compensation, which in no
event, 1t is stated, continues more than
four years.
1T is safe to estimate that these
800 non-producing cripples, that now
cost the people of the state not less
than 500 per year each, could be and
should be made not only seif-suppoilt-
ing but able to earn at least dollar
a day EACH" says the report. "This
would mean adding to produced
wealth at least 5000 a year each or
a gain of $40 which, added to the saw
ing of $4,000, would indicate a net
gain of 100000 per year. This saw
ing could be readily realized on an
investment of less than one-tfird of
that amount. Therefore, from n busi-
ness standpoint the proposition is hard
ly a subject for discussion. Tie hui
manitarian features are unquesHoued
hence it would seem as though the
proposition should receive practically
unanimous endorsement"
There are 74,00G employees Under
the Montana workmen's compensation
act, representing yearly payroll of
more than SS5.000,O0O and constituting
90 per cent of the laboring men of the
state engaged in hazardous occuka-
lions, according to the report. The
administration of the law in Montans
during the past three years during
which it has been in operation, has
cost less than one years operation in
other states. 1t is asserted.
The actual cost of administering
and directing the law in this state q
less than $4,000 a year, while in Ne
vada. which has less than one-fourb
of the employees under the act tha |
Montana has, and as a consequene |
has handled less than One-fourth If |
the business, the cost reaches abot |
$35, 600 a year. In Oregon, where til
work to be done is comparatively til
same as In this state, the cost is $780,
900, while in the state of Washington.
1t runs up to $4,000, and in Califor-
mia nearly 100000 year.
During the three years since the
law has been in operation in Montana
the board has paid in compensation
over $2,0O0,0O0. which has gone to 90
1874 injured workmen. of which 500
represented fatal accidents 4,773 re-
ceived monthly disability compensa-
ton. and 14,134 returned to work with
in the two weeks waiting period pro-
vided by the act. and therefore only
received the hospital and medical at
tention prescribed by the law.
Under the safety provisions of the
law. all operating quartz and coal
mines, and plants of all Kinds using
machinery, have been inspected for
the purpose of acquiring where nee
essary the installation of protective
safety devices, designed to prevent
accidents. The gratifying result of
this work, states the report, is that
accidents are now greatly on the de-
crease.
The board averages about 400 pieces
of mail matter daily, which is handled
by force of eight which, as in the
case Of operating cost, is the lowest ad-
ministrative force employed anywhere
in any state operating under compen-
sation law with the scope of the Mon
tana act.
Nearly 10000 questions or cases have
been passed upon by the board without
q single appeal having been taken from
the rulings made. This is a record
without parallel in the 38 states oper-
ating under compensation law. In
all other states numerous appeals have
been taken from the findings, decisions
or rulings Of the administrative board
or commission.
X 4 4
Soldiers Taxes Held Up.
Payment of taxes Of Montana men in
the army or navy has been deferred
until year after the close of the war,
under an act of the special session OF
the legislature last spring. Attorney
General Ford calls attention to this be-
cause OF the number of inquiries he
has received. The men themselves,
or persons In their behalf. must file af-
fidavits with the county treasurer, set
ting forth the fact the owners of the
property are In either the army or
navy, as the case may be, and this OPP
IN Sfo " thA rol)octinu If to