Evening star., 1924-02-11
CLASH At HEARING
ON WORKERS LAW
Statement of c. J. Columbus
on Compensation Measure
Challenged by Chairman.

There was sharp clash between
Charles J. Columbus. representing the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation and Representative Roy G..
Fitzgerald of Ohio. chairman Of the
special subcommittee conducting hear
1ngs on workmen's compensation for
the District of Columbia at the hear
ing today. Chairman Fitzgerald
questioned the .credibility of state
ment made by Mr.. Columbus.
The latter had made a statement
that the Washington merchants are
IN FAVOR OF a workmen's compensation
Aaw for the District, but absolutely
opposed to the Fitzgerald bill, basing
tn Is on the fact that 1t is government
oAeration and control, and that they
AKA opposed to any measure on that
ground.
Outlines View OF Bill.
Mr., Columbus said he believed the
bill SA ould be written to express in
detaila the damages to be paid and
the 1ian bility Lf the employer. AS q
matter af fart, he said. already work
mems ,mpensation is enforced in
the Distt icf because he did not know
of any Ga Sc where the employer had
failed, ma ny of them assuming the
liability AID some of them paying the
regular Wa ekly wage in full and for
medical att, ntion. depending upon in
surance c1 npanies for reimburse
ment.
Mr. Columbus made the statement
that many ca rried their own insur-
ance and wen' insured through mu-
tuals. Repre- sentative Fitzgerald
asked for the names Of these local
street railway companies and the
telephone company, MIR. Columbus
said he mist refuse to name the
others on account Of circumstance
which hapr anei just before the hear
ing started and which he refused TO
divulge.
Representative Fitzgerald said:
Then you refuse to make public
their names knowing that this COM
mittee is entitled to the infor1na-
ton"
Mr.. Fitzgerald told the committee
that he had received an application
from only one company which desired
TO conduct its own insurance and said
that If there were a number, as Mr..
Columbus had in1imated he would be
willing 20 modify the bill. He then
offered Mr.. Columbus An opportunity
to withdraw his statements, saying
that he might have been carried away
by enthusiasm. Columbus did not
withdraw them, however.
Carl Hookstedt TestifAes.
Carl Hookstedt. an expert from the
bureau of labor statistics, Who has
written a textbook on the subject of
Workmen'S compensation. spoke in
favor of the Fitzgera Id bill and COM
pared the rates with those in the Un-
derhil bill, which Also is before the
committee for consideration.
Representative Charles L. Under
hill of massachusetts asked that Ell
liot II. Goodwin, vice president of
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States should be heard. Mr..
Goodwin filed a letter for the cham
the Fitzgerald bill because it sets
up governmental monopoly. He said
he desired to answer propaganda re-
garding the real intentions of the
Chamber of Commerce OF the United
States.
He said this organization is not op-
posing workmen's compensation in
represents the attitude OF the cham
ber at two annual meetings.
Discusses Iropn Eanda.
Mr.. Undarhill said that with refer
ence TO the propaganda the inference
is that the Chamber of Commerce has
been doing something improper" and
denied this. explaining that the CEN
trail orga njzation has written To all
organization members setting forth
the stand and making statements re-
.,arding the bill as the central cham
Der understands it. ask ang the UNDER
lying membership for OJlnions.
Edward +. Coliaday. II. c. Graham
and David u Lea. repr esenting the
Washington Board of Trade were
present at the hearing.
The committee decided 40 resume
hearings again tomorrow morning at
10 O'Clock.