The Nome nugget., 1921-01-22
COPIES OF PROPOSED WoRKMEN's COMPENSATION
 ACT REVIVED

Copies Of the proposed act of the territorial legislature to create an in- dust ria1 insurance fund for the bene- fit of injured and the dependents of employees killed in hazardous acrupa- tions have been received by Secretary I'olet of the Chamber of Commerce for distribution in Nome. The act will be considered at the next session of the territorial legislature and in the event of popular endorsement. will probably become a territorial law. The meas ure is the outgrowth of a resolution passed by the legislature in 1919. known aS Senate Concurrent Resolu- ent woronens compensation act ap- plies only to mining industry: that 1t seems unjust and unequitable to give compensation for injury only to those engaged in q single industry. denying slIch compensation to those engaged in other induA ries: that Sen ate Fill No. 5s. tthe proposed work mems compensation act) Is q model law drawn along lines in keeping with the trend of progressive legisla .ion to- ward the establishment of state funds for the insurance and compensation of those injured in every industrial em- ployment: and that the legislature de- Sires to secure an expression of opin- ion on the advisbility of enactins such Law in this territory and therefore resolves that 1000 copies of Sena Q Bill No, 5s bep rinted and distributed under the direction of the governor to all labor organizations. employers of labor. business and frater1al orders. attorneys and others interested in or der to ascertain the popular view thereon. Such correspondence, criti- cisrn and suggestions as are received are to be submitted to the iesisla ure this year by the governor. together with his own rt-comUrndations. The bill was proposed by Senator Luther C. Hess of Fairbanks and was drawn by the American Association for la Dor Legislation
 Section of the bill provides: An Industrial commission is hereby created consisting of three commits sioners. to he appointed by the gov ernor, who shall devote their entire time to the duties of the commission. The t,-rm of office shall be six years. The salary of the chairman shall be $3.500 a year. and each of the other members s3,O0O year. The com mission a!sp has the power to appoint Il secretary at a salary of 5000 2 year. + shall have its headquarters ill Juneau with offices, but may hold sessions at any place in the territory. It is also empowered to employ such clerical help and other assistance as is necessary. Section also provides: "T'he commission is hereby invested with full power and Jurisdiction over, and shall have suci, supervision over every employment and place of en- pioyment subject to tilis act as may be necessary adequately to administer and enforce all laws and regulations requiring plch employment and place of employment. to be safe and shall issue safety regulations whenever necessary"
 The proposed insurance fund to be created by payments of premiums lev jed on employers of labor subject to the act. The rate of the peimi,im will be determined by rates and classifica tions Of employmen.S compiled and s- sued by the commission and annual payments of premiums are require 10 be made into the fund. The employ- CTS securing the payment of compen- sation by contributing premiums to the fund are thereoy relievc!l fror, all liability from personal injuries or death sustained by his employees and persons entitled to compensation nn- der the act shall have recourse there for only to the industrial insurance fund and not to the employer. The in- dustrial commission. it s provide Il : Shall classify employments with re- gard to their degree of hazard and shall determine the risk of the differ ent clasSfications and shall fix the rates of premiums for each of said classifications sufficiently high to pro- vide for the payment of compensation according to the schedules established