The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-26
TO PROTECT LABOR
Compensation Insurance May
Be Written by State.
Bill To Be Introduced at Special
Legislative Session.
COMMISSION CONFERS HERE
Also Plans Compulsory Protec-
tiOn Industrial Plant Workers.
Allen FayOrs Plan-May Copy
New York Statute.
COMMISSION C0NFERS HERE

state compensation insurance NAV
be provided by a bill to be presented
during the special session of the Kan
sas legislature. Compulsory protec-
ton for all employees in industrial
plants may also be asked under the
proposed new law.
Members of the compensation COM
mission appointed by Governor Allen
are in conference in Topeka this aft
ernoon and will discuss provisions of
the proposed new measure with the
governor before adjournment It is
believed that terms of the new bill
VIII be agreed upon and the measure
drafted in time for introduction early
IN the session. ,enator A. NJ. Keene
chairman of the commission, stated
that in his opinion the committees
could give full consideration to tel ms
of the bill and its passage could be ef-
fected in ten days to two weeks after
introduction.
Provisions of the New York COM
pensation law may be followed very
largely in drafting the new measure
for Kansas.
Allen to Approve 1t.
Governor Allen is known to favor a
liberal compensation measure and is
expected to approve suggestions for
placing the work in the state depart
ment. This plan would mean that the
| state would issue compensation insur-
ance permits and policies and would
pay claims for injury or death of in
sured employees. Advocates of state
insurance have strongly urged the
| plan and it is understood that it has
met with response in administration
circles.
Reduction of premiums would be
affected, administration followers as
sert. thru issuance of state insurance.
It is urged that overhead expenses
6a Ha% 81
employers would be lessened. A high
er scale of compensation will also be
urged by administration supporters in
the house and senate. The increased
insurance scale will be urged on the
theory that unit expense will be low
cred. Figures in possession of mem-
bers of the commission were today de-
clared TO show that expense to insur-
ers has been reduced forty per cent
thru handling of the compensation
business by the state.
Make Insurance Compulsory.
| Workmen's compensation insurance
will be made compulsory under
changes to be suggested in the present
| state law. At present employers of la
Dor are held to be operating under the
compensation act unless they file GER
! tificates to the contrary.
| 1t was pointed out, tho, that many
employers who elect to carry their
own insurance are in reality not finan-
cially able to meet possible losses thru
work of extra hazard. This situation
/ is said to be especially true in the case
| of contractors engaged in construction
work. An amendment to be urged TO
the present law would provide for
state investigation as to the ability of
an employer to meet any probable
losses. Where it is shown that the
employer is assuming a personal risk
beyond his personal means, the state
| insurance department would be en-
| powered to compel the contractor to
| buy insurance. surrender his contract
or sub-let the work to a firm operat-
ing under protection of state insur-
dnCe.