Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-07
IMPORTANT MEASURE GIVES
sragNorn 70 PRessNy CON-
pENsArioN STATUTE.
PAYMENT COMPULSORY IN
HAZARDOUS EMPLOYMENT
Employer May Elect to Insure or Not
in Nonhaxa rdsus Occupations. and
in All Other Employment Insurance
10 Optiona,-Definite Rate for Ma
jor,ty Of Accidents.
TO Times Repuoiicap.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Mcines, Feb. The evolution
OF the principle Of workmen's COM
pensation is evidenced in a new law
which it is now being proposed the
legislature adopt in lieu OF the statute
under whicn the state is now operat-
ing and has been since the law first
went on the statute books some six
Years ago.
The new statute. introduced in the
house Thursday by Representative
Griffin, OF Woodbury. county. is the
product of the experiences OF the
state industrial commissioner. the
manufacturers. the workers and of at
torneys who have had TO do with the
administration and Interpretation of
the present law. In fact it was drawn
by Henry Sampson, former assistant
attorney general. 10 whom has been
referred in times past the legal ques-
tons regarding the present law, after
conferences with Industrial Commits
sioner A. B. Funk. F. A. Garfield, OF
Cedar Rapids. president of the Iowa
Federation of Labor; George A
Wrightman. of Des Moines, secretary
OF the Iowa State Manufacturers Asso
citation. and State Labor Commissioner
Trick. Of Des Moines.
The new law makes the payment of
wo:kmen's compensation compulsory
for employers engaged in what are
specifically set forth as hazardous oc-
equations: il provides that in occupa-
tons considered non haza rdous en-
ployers may elect as to whether or not
they will come under its provisions.
and with other occupations it makes
it optional.
Puts Teeth in Old Law.
The compulsory feature puts teeth in
the proposed statute which the old
measure did not have. its hackers point
out. In ruling Of the supreme court Of
the United States it was established
that. in hazardous occupations, en-
plovers could be compelled to come
under this act. Under the present law
If is matter OF election.
The occupations listed as hazardous
include almost all factories in which
is used to any considerable
degree.
The new law also fixes the rate o.
compensation for the majority of acct
dents at so per cent Of the weekly
wage whereas heretofore it has been
80 per cent. 1t provides that a Arm
must carry insurance or show the state
in insurance department that il is fnan-
ciaily able to carry It's own insurance.
While the above provisions are parti-
cularly in favor OF the employee the
interests OF the employer are looked
out for in the following.
An employer is protected from pay
ing double compensation. That is a
man can not collect damages from a
street car for instance for more than
his compensation would be and also
collect compensation from his en-
ployer And the employer can not go
back on the street car company which
caused an accident, in case the party
injured collected a portion of his
money from the street car company in
the way of damages and portion
from his employer. An instance of this
sort is reported to have arisen under
the present law.
There is provision in the new statute
which will protect the employer against
all liability other than for compensa-
ton.
This measure is to be introduced in
the senate by Senator Holdoe9el 1t
is probable il will be adopted by the
present assembly inasn UGH as IT has
the endorsement Of all parties con-
cerned.