The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-02-14


the newly created State Reconstruc-
ton Committee in that state.
The experience of the draft" the
Governor said, Showed that one
third of the young men between 81
and 81 years of age were physical
ly unfit for military service. This
is appalling 1t looks as though we
had not given enough attention to
the health of the people. There isn't
much to a state but the health,
character, ability, and forcefulness
of its people,"
This declaration is taken as fur
Their indication that the Governor
intends to exercise all his influence
in securing legislation for the con-
servation of the health of the state
along the line of his urgent appeal
to the Legislature for the enactment
of a workmen' health insurance
law.
Nothing is so devastating in the
life of the workers family as sick
ness" he declared in his message.
1.-The incapicity of the wage-earner
because of illness is one of the I'M
DERIVING causes of poverty. Now the
worker and his family bear this
burden alone. The enactment of a
health insurance law, which strong
ly urge, will remedy this unfair
condition. Moreover, it will result
in greater precaution being taken
to prevent illness and disease and to
eliminate the consequent loss of the
state therefrom. 1t will lead to the
adoption of wider measures of pub
lie health and hygiene and 1t will
operate to conserve human life."
Health insurance legislation, &C
cording to the Governor, should in
clude maternity insurance "in the
interest of posterity and Of the
race"
The health insurance bill intro
Guced by Senator Davenport and AS
semblyman Donohue has the united
and active backing of the State Fed
Grafton of Labor, as we'll as of many
prominent state and national social
service associations and womens
organizations. The New York
Globe characterizes it as "the
most important bill before the pres
ent Legislature" and adds: THE
workmen's compensation act was
the greatest measure of the last de-
cade. A sound health insurance will
give equal distinction to the pres
ent one"
Governor of Maine Favors It
"A complete social insurance pro-
gram would concern itself with the
sickness of industrial workers as
we'll as with accidents resulting
from their occupation" declared
Governor Carl E. Milliken in his re-
cent message, urging the subject of
workmen's health insurance upon
the attention of the Legislature.
AN accident to working man."
he said, lis not merely misfortune
for the individual; it is definite
loss to the state. The same is true
of sickness. Not only do these act
ual misfortunes cause suffering and
loss to working men and their fami-
lies, but the fear of either of them
lessons the efficiency of the toiler
while he is actively employed. The
relation between employer and en-
ployee is not simply a dual con-
tract; both parties to the agreement
are accountable to society for the
proper discharge of their mutual OBJ
legations. Society, therefore,
through organized form of govern
ments, has the right to protect it.
self against any conditions which
tend to impair the efficiency Of the
toiler or to create friction between
the worker and his employer"
improvements in the workmen"s
compensation law were urged by
Governor Milliken, including fiji
ty per cent Increase of the maximum
limit of weekly compensation, in
creasing the compensation to two
thirds instead of one-half the av-
erage weekly wage, reducing the
waiting period from fourteen days
to seven days and providing more
liberal medical and hospital care.
Referring to the advantages of
state funds for workmen's insurance
the Governor declared that the por-
ton of the expense of operation of
an insurance company which rep
resents the cost of soliciting bust
ness lis not a justifiable charge
against insurance which is made
compulsory by law"
ola aoa papsiopa and cicLnaee