The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-04-22
!. J. WEHE OUS1ED
BY GOV. FRAZIER
Suspends WOrkmen's COmpensa-
tiOn Board Member-WOrk
Is Badly Muddled.

Bismarck, N. d., April 2O.-L. J.
Wehe, member of the North Dakota
workmen's compensation commission,
has been suspended by an order of
Governor Lynn j. Frazier, it was an
nounced today. The order gives Mr..
Wehe until April % to either resign
or make defense to the charges recited
by the governor.
In his notice suspending Wehe, Gov
ernor Frazier asserts that the commits
sioner has continued his private law
practice since he accepted the state
position, that he lacks executive abil-
ity, and that in the conduct of recent
minimum wage hearings he was "tact-
less in the examination of and dis
respectful and offensive to number of
the witnesses who appeared to testify
at such hearings"
Former Lake Attorney
Mr.. Webe, formerly an attorney of
Devils Lake, accepted the appoint
ment on the state board last July.
AS has been repeatedly stated in
Forum dispatches from Bismarck, the
work of the state workmen's COM
pensation has been more or less con-
fused for some time. High rates have
been imposed on employers, and lit
tie or no money has been paid to in
jured workmen.
Some time ago, John Brown, sec
retary of the board, quit that post,
and petition was prepared and sign
ed by practically every employe in
the bureau, asking that Wehe be re-
tired. Some time ago Wehe assured
the governor that he would resign,
fixing April ! as the date. He failed
to carry that promise into effect and
the situation in the commission has
finally become such that the governor
has been obliged to act.
The notice served on Mr.. Wehe,
follows:
Charges of Governor
Evidence has been presented to me
to the effect that since your appoint
ment and qualification as workmen's
compensation commissioner ard dur
ing the period that you have been
acting as such commissioner and draw
ing the salary of such commissioner,
you have been carrying on private
law practice.
"That in connection with this pri-
vate law practice you have had stem
ographers in the employ of the work
mems compensation bureau do large
amount Of stenographic work during
the time which they should have de-
voted to the work Of the bureau, and
for which they were paid by the bu-
reau;
"That for such stenographic work
you have used the office supplies Of
the bureau, and that by reason of
the fact there has been great delay
in the work Of the bureau, and par
ticularly in the adjustment of claims
which come to the bureau for adjust
ment under the law.
'That through the lack of execu-
tive ability, Feasibility, incompatible
ity of temperament and lack of com
prehension Of the spirit of the work
mems compensation law, and by your
general ineffciency you have been a
detriment to the bureau and a handi-
cap particularly to the work of the
claim department of the bureau;
"That at the public hearing cen
Quoted by the minimum wage COM
mission held during the month of Feb
ruary, 1920, you conducted yourself
in manner detrimental to public
interest, being tactless in the exam
ination of and disrespectful and Of
fensive to a number Of the witnesses
who appeared to testify at such hear
ing;
Other Employees
"That several efficient employees of
the bureau have rendered their resig-
nation on account Of your incompe-
tency, inefficiency, Feasibility and
your attitude of intolerance toward
them. and that such employees have
been induced to remain in the en-
ploy of the bureau only through the
exercise of the utmost persuasive
powers of persons deeply interested
in the welfare of the bureau, and that
employees decline to remain in the
empty of the bureau if you continue
longer as Workmen's compensation
commissioner;
"That your presence has impaired
the efficiency Of the bureau and the
resignation of such employees would
be great detriment to the work of
the bureau and that your continu-
ance in the office as workmen's COM
pensation commissioner will do great
harm to the functioning of the bu-
reau.
"In the light of this evidence.
feel it is my duty to inquire what,
if anythink. you desire to state in your
defense. As charges, if true are of
such nature as to require the imme-
date severance of your connection
with the workmen's compensation bu.
reau an immediate reply is requested.
Failing to receive any statement from
you or your resignation, on or before
the 22nd, inst, shall consider it my
duty to remove you summarily from
office.
'You are hereby notified that /
have suspended you from the office
Of workmen's compensation commits
sioner, such suspension to continue
until the final termination of this
matter"
L. F. Yollmer who returned fnon,