The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-01-07


While we are rendering only par
tial account of the results that &C
crued from this legislation let us not
pass over this splendid opportunity
of indelibly impressing on the minds
of the interested employers that
should the legislature in this coming
session decide to increase the month
ly premiums of injured workmen and
raise the awards to the dependents of
the deceased so per cent over the
present schedule, and amend the
medical aid and safety acts so as
to strike out that feature of the law
providing for joint contribution and
substitute a provision requiring the
industries to absorb the entire cost
of medical treatment and the COM
plete maintenance of accident proven
ton, the workmen still would have
more at stake than the employers and
they might be by far the heaviest
losers at the end of the two-year
period, if it should be so arranged
that the system of administration
was rendered extremely partial and
unfair.
The fact should be emphasized that
a law may seem its value and eff,
fectiveness can be completely de-
stroyed by pernicious system of adj
ministration. In the light of these
facts we therefore respectfully urge
the legislature to cease making "po-
litical football" out of legislation that
is so fundamental and necessary to
the welfare of the common people of
our state.
Persuant to this appeal labor de-
sires to reaffirm it's position on the
consolidation of these departments
and we hereby emphatically declare
that we favor combining all of these
industrial boards and commissions
under one general head to be known
as the STATE INDUSTRIAL COM
MISSION" This commission to have
supervisory power over all of the fol-
lowing state boards and commissions,
subject, however, to rules and regula-
lions provided for by statute:
Commissioner of Labor
Industrial Insurance Commission
Industrial Welfare Commission
State Medical Aid Board
State Safety Board
oeoCC NhihhhS DCpdI tucuL
and such other kindred departments
having similar aims and purposes.
The representation on this COM
mission shall consist of five members
and one general secretary, two of
whom shall be selected by and repre-
sent the employers, and two of whom
shall be selected by and represent the
workmen coming within the scope of
this law. The fifth member to be
chosen directly by the governor to
represent the public. The motto of
this commission from the highest to
the humblest employee, in all of its
branches, should be: Incorporation
and Service" The personnel of this
commission should be made up of
men endowed with a spirit of fair
ness, broad vision and organizing
ability to coordinate the work.
Discipline and harmonious relations
should be maintained in all depart
ments.
POWERS OF COMMISSION
This commission to have statutory
powers to coordinate, reorganize and
divide into as many subdivisions or
departments as may be necessary to
successfully carry on the work, or
as in the judgment of the commission,
the exigency Of the case may demand.
STATE ORGANIZATION
The state organization should con-
sist of at least seven subdivisions,
which are the component parts of the
entire state administrative organiza-
ton. They are as follows:
Medical Aid Dept.-At the head of
this department there shall be
designated duly licensed physi-
clan, with as many assistants as
may from time to time be deter
mined by the State Industrial Com
mission. This would bring the
present Medical Aid Board and the
Medical Department of the Indus
trial Insurance Commission under
one head.
Claim Adjustor's Dept.-The ordi-
nary office routine which consists
of receiving and rejecting claims,
should be handled by this depart
ment. The main commission, how
ever, should be relieved of most of
the detail routine work, such as
signing claims on trivial accidents
and the rejection of doubtful claims
over which there is no dispute, but
all claims carrying a permanent
partial disability rating should be
approved by one employer repre-
sentative and one labor represent
ative of the main commission to
guarantee justice and the validity
of the claim.
Auditing Dept.-The function of the
auditing department should consist
of auditing the payrolls of the en-
ployers coming within the scope of
the law, collecting and properly
crediting the premiums that are
from time to time levied against
the establishments operating in the
different classes.
Statistical Dept.--At present there
are several statistical departments
practically duplicating each others
work. They should be consolidated
under one head and all statistical
information compiled for the entire
organization in one department.
Safety Dept.-This department to
carry on accident prevention work
in accordance with rules and stand
ards promulgated by the main COM
mission, inspect and certify to COM
pliance or Noncompliance of safety
rules and educational standards in
all establishments, factories, steam
boats, elevators, public utility COM
panies, boilers, etc., (other than
coal or metal mining) coming with
in the scope of the law.
Mining Dept. - This department
should embrace all metal and coal
mines operating in the state of
Washington. The mining depart
ment should be under the direct
control and supervision of the