White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-07-04
State Protects Workers
Injured in Industry

Civilization is an attempt to guar
antee to every man a square deal, to
reward and protect man according
to his worth and merit. In recent
years the people have come to recog-
nize certain things as being definite
obligations, and removed them from
the whims and uncertainty Of public
charity. One of these things is the
Workmen's Compensation Act, says
says the Deming Prospector.
Legislation which has for it's OBJ
ject the promotion Of the public well
fare offers many serious problems to
the legislator, as humane principles
can only be stated in broad and gen.
eral language. The burden of all
these laws falls upon those who must
administer them. In order to success
fully administer labor laws man
must know where to apply the ready
rules Of common sense, and where to
insist upon technical compliance, as
here is the one place where the spirit
and the letter of the law must work
in closest cooperation. These condi-
lions demand an executive and judi
cial mind the capacity to do the just
and proper thing at the right time.
The 1921 session of the state legis-
lature consolidated the offices Of the
Bureau of Labor, Industrial Insurance
Commission, State Medical Aid Board
and State Safety Board into the one
| big Department of Labor and Indus.
tries. The rising costs of administra-
tive expense made the consolidation
imperative and necessary.
Edward Clifford was appointed d.
rector Of the department, with author
ty to make the changes and improve
ments necessary to bring about an ef-
flcient administration Of all the de.
partment's affairs, After a careful
study of the needs of the injured
workmen, he reached the conclusion
that the increased cost Of living de-
manded corresponding increase in
compensation to injured workmen. AS
a result of this study, he determined
to collect every cent due to the de-
partment, and in addition carry out
intensive safety work, feeling assured
IL these two things were done that in.
creases could be paid to injured
workmen, and the widows and or
phans of men killed in industry, with
out increasing insurance rates.
With these ideas In mind, he sub
mitted his recommendation for in
creases to the legislature. 1t took
weeks of hard work to convince the
skeptics that awards to injured work
men could be increased without in
creasing present costs. In the end
the legislature was won over and the
bill passed both houses by overwhelm.
ing votes.
AS result, widow and three
children now receive monthly pen.
sion Of $50 per month instead Of $45
per month, and an orphan child re-
ceives $25 per month instead Of $40.
Awards for injuries were also In
creased.
Industrial Insurance and Medical
Aid premiums are collected three
times per year. Claims to injured
workmen are promptly paid upon sub.
mission of the required proof of acct
dent. The new safety standards and
bulletins are reducing accidents by
encouraging the establishment Of
safety committees and safety inspec-
tons. The whole procedure Of the
department Is simple and direct. The
department pays out to injured work.
men about 100000 per year for &C.
cident claims consequently, some
red tape Is necessary to guard against
fraud. The Department Of Labor and
Industries is big state business con:
Germ, and its low overhead cost com
pares favorably with that OF any great
private corporation.