Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-29
Explains Business
To Fitzgerald
Representative U,1derhiH
asserts Proposed Substi-
tute MEASURE More Fair.
LO,uer Rates and Better
Safeguards Provided
Workers Is Claim.

The workmen's compensation meas
use favored by the three business Or
gantzations in Washington, in prefer
ence to the Fitzgerald exclusive state
fund bill, Is explained by Represent
ative Charles L. UnderhiIl Of Massa-
chusetts, who Is fathering this legis-
iative effort to leave the industrial
insurance field in the National Capital
open to competition, while at the
same time affording the workers the
best possible safeguards and compen-
sation protection at the lowest cost.
Business and civic leaders in Wash
fngton have registered the practically
unanimous opposition of the Fitzger-
aid bill and in favor of the Underhill
measure. The following statement,
prepared by Representative Underhill.
telling just what this legislation
n ans, to the people Of washington:
and interested citizens by the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton.
Representative Underhill declared:
Il am in favor of q workmen's COM
pensation law for the District Of CO.
lumbia. but opposed to the govern
ment going Into the insurance bust
ness The Underhili compensation
In force In most OF the states. 1t
has the approval Of the Board Of
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce.
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
ests Of the District. The business
men and their associations have
unanimously opposed the bill. which
puts the government into the insur-
ance business. I contend that the
business men and employers Of the
District. who are to pay for this in
surance should have their opinions
respected.
More Expensive, He Says.
Government operation OF insurance
has been uniformly more expensive
than private Insurance.. This Is the
committee Of Congress. Mutual COM
panies furnish insurance at a lower
net cost to the insured than any state
fund. The insurance companies also
pay heavy taxes. and were these COM
the people OF the District would be
obliged to pay more for their insur-
ance and also more taxes. The
Underhill bill permits private insur-
ance companies to operate in the Dis
insurance companies and creates a
governmental state insurance fund.
Estate insurance's greatest weakness
is that neither the employer nor en-
private insurance companies are do
ing great accident prevention work.
This prevention work consists mot
only Of regular inspections, but OF
the drafting OF safety codes. machine
designing and safe plant construction
Cites Prevention Steps.
1.-THE state insurance funds have
spent practically nothing for acci-
dent prevention work. 1t Is to the
interest of all that accidents be pre-
vented rather than paid for after
they occur;
have also established rehabilitation hos
workmen are sent, free of cost to
themselves. and their injuries are
properly treated. Expert services
frequently can restore the workmen
would fall. OFTEN the medical serv-
Ices thus given exceed in cost the
compensation allowed by law. Dur
ing all the period OF treatment no de-
duction is made from the compensa-
ton allowed to the worker. The ad-
vocates OF governmental insurance
seek to establish the Ohio govern
mental plan In the District.
1.-THE official reports OF the United
States Department OF Labor show
the Ohio plan. No accident preven-
ton work worthwhile Ia done, little
If any rehabilitation Ia attempted,
claims are long overdue and work
men suffer because they are unable
to get their compensation.
wherever state insurance has
gained q foothold politics has entered
In to play havoc with the system.
Favoritism in rates. favoritism in
claim settlement. inefficIency duo to
political appointments and all Of the
other customary weaknesses have
crept in.
"Under the new insurance code
recommended for passage by the Dis
trtct committee. all insurance rates