The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-02-03
LOCAL MEN SHY
AT new MEASURE
Manufacturers Here Don't
Want to Discuss Plan
for Insurance.
CALL PLAN VAGUE
Proposed Bill Would Force
Manufacturers to Pay In
surance to Idle Workers.

kenosha manufacturers today show
ed little desire to go on record in re-
gard to a bill introduced into the
legislature on Tuesday which has for
its purpose an insurance against I'M
employment. The measure is the most
advanced measure along industrial
lines to be introduced anywhere in the
United States.
The measure was prepared by Prof
John r. Commons Of the departm ent
of economics at the University of Wis
consin, and noted labor economist,
with the assistance of six students.
1t would require employers to form
mutual insurance companies and pay
benefits to workers they discharge at
the rate of $3.50 a day for adult men
and women and rs cents a day for
boys and girls between 16 and 18.
Must Study Measure.
eve would hardly be expected to
pass on such measure without giving
it wide study" declared one of the
leading Kenosha manufacturers this
morning. ct wouldn't want to be
quoted on the matter. It would mean
lot of money in Kenosha and casu-
al reading Of the bill does not indi-
cate where it is coming from. I do
not see. any provision in the bill to
safeguard the manufacturer in case
it is impossible to sell his product or
if he is4sfoFeNd to carly 1t along q. a
great loss in carrying charges"
at is very hard to pass law which
will provide against unemployment.
The sale Of products is regulated by
the supply and demand of products
and the supply and demand Of prod
ucts must regulate the demand for la
Dor. 1t is possible that an insurance
against unemployment could be work
ed out, but the cost of it would have
to be added to the product and adding
such a cost might make it very hard
for Wisconsin industries to compete
with industries in other states where
there is no such provision How
ever, we will cross that bridge when
we come to it."
Thirteen Weeks Pay Maximum.
The unemployed providing they had
worked at least rs weeks, would be en-
titled to benefits for maximum per-
iqd of IS weeks on the basis of one
week for every four weeks of work
Workers idle as result of strike
or lockout are not entitled to benefits.
Farm laborers, individuals receiving
pensions of more sthan $500 annually,
persons whose annual income exceeds
$1,000 and individuals mainly depend
ent for their livelihood upon some 9TH
er person also are exempt.
Idle Worker Has Rights.
State free employment offices. al
ready established, would administer
the act in each locality. 1t is provided,
however, that an idle worker need not
accept work at lower rate of pay
where working conditions are less ia
vorable than in the place Of last en-
ployment, or where vacancy has been
created by a strike or lockout.
If an unemployed worker finds suit
able work in another district. his last
employer is given choice of either pay
ing the railroad fare to the new lob
or continuing to pay insurance bene-
fits. Prof. Commons said fear of I'M
employment was the moving impulse
behind most labor difficulties. Remove
that fear. he said, and labor difficulties
would be reduced and production
speeded up.
Aim to Avoid Depression.
While his bill is designed primarily
as an insurance measure, its real eff
feet, he declared, would be to force
employers so to adjust their work as
to eliminate slack periods and depres-
sion to escape the burden of insurance
benefits. Under the bill, the state in
dustrial commission is given broad
powers to determine when benefits
shall be paid and to readjust wages
and employment conditions to meet
with changing living costs and other
=.