The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-01-22
NO PROTECTION
ISPLANNED FOR
FARM WORKER
Biggest Industrial Class in State
Excluded from Compen.
satiOn Act
NEW BOARD is CREATED
Commissioner of Agriculture and
Labor to Head Admins
+ - terial Body

The leagues awOrkmen's cOmpensa
tion act, after being approved in the
league caucus last night, was intro.
duccd in the 10th assembly this after,
noon. The actsis a cflalb:nation OF all
the best known features of all similar
statutes now in effect in America
with some new wrinkles added for the
especial benefit of North Dakota. The
commissioners of agriculture and la boI
is to be chairman OF the industrial &c.
cident board which will administer
the act, receiving for such services
$500 in addition to his present salary.
4ie will have two assistants to be ap-
pointed by the governor and to re.
ceive $2,5UO per annum, and there Will
be a secretary.
After reciting that "the prosperity
Of the state depends in large meas
ure upon the well-being of It's wage
workers, and, therefore for workmeu
injured in hazardous employmenls,
and their families and dependents,
sure and certain relief is provided, re-
gardless OF, questions Of FAULT ana to
lne exclusion OF every other remedy -
the league compensation bill proceeds
to bar from these benefits the larg-
est class OF wage-Workers in North
Dakota-those engaged in agricultural
service. The eXperlenve OF European
countries which have had similar acCs
III force for more than a quarter OF
a century show that more than 80 per
cent OF all the industrial injuries re-
ported are sustained in agricultural
pursuits.
Hospital and medical attention must
be furnished an injured employe I'M
mediately after his injury by his en-
ployer If permanent disability re-
suits from the injury, the proportion
which such disability bears to the in
jured's entire earning capacity is to
be taken into consideration by the
board, and compensation fixed accord
ingly, ranging from two-thirds Of So
weeks wages for one per cent of dis
a oility to t&o-thirds of 468 weeks for
80 per cent disability. et
Weekly compensation shall not ex-
ceed $40 nor fall below $6, unless the
weekly wages of sthe injured are less
than Sc, in which event full wages
shall be paid during the period OF in
capacity or disability. II death results
from an industrial accident, the sur
viving widow or widower or other 9TH
er dependent is to receive 35 per cent
Of the deceased's average weekly
wage until death or re-marriage, and
where widow survives she shall in
any event be paid 156 weeks compen-
sation, with an additional ten per
cent for each minor dependent child,
provided that the whole amount OF
compensation paid shall not exceed
two-thirds of the average weekly wage
of the deceased. Where the survivors
are children alone, rs per cent OF the
deceased's average weekly wage Is to
be paid for the first child with ten
per cent for each additional child,
provided the whole amount does not
exceed two-thirds of the average
weekly wage, and such compensation
is to continue until death, marriage
OF. the age of IS. Parents wholly de-
pendent upon the earnings of q son
or daughter will receive 25 per cent
of the deceased's average weekly
wage. Partial dependents are cared
for with a graduated compensation
scale. ,
employers of three or more work
ers, except in agricultural or domes-
tic service. are required to report to
the industrial accident board the num-
ber of their employees and the wages
paid. The board will then fix the
CONTINUED ON Page Two.J
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