Evening star., 1924-01-26
LABOR OPPOSED
TO UNDERH|LL BILL
Officials Prefer to Wait for
Fitzgerald Measure Than
to Accept Substitute.

declaration that the Fitzserald
workmen's compensation bill is pref
cradle to the Underhill industrial in
Surance bill, both from the viewpoint
ANA interest of the employer the en-
hi"ye and the citizenship generally,
ana that the workers in the District
of Columbia if they cannot have the
fitzgerald bill passed now would
father wait than have to take the
haerhlll blll was made today by DR..
John Il. Andrews, secretary of the
American Association for La Dor Legis-
iation, and Edgar Wallace. represent
ing the American Federation of La
hor, at the opening hearing before a
subcommittee of the House District
committees
The witnesses were sharplv cross
examined by Representative Charles
l.. bnderhill OF massachusetts, while
representative Roy g. Fitzgerald of
ohio. who is fathering the rival bill,
presided over the hearing as chair
man or the subcommittee. Repre-
sentative Tnderhill is also a member
az the subcommittee. The other MEM
hcfs present We're Representative
oscar Keller of Minnesota and Rep
rrSentatlve Stanley kuntz of Illinois.
Bills in Deadlock.
'he Prlhtlpdl uiHerence betW Ween
these two bills, which got into a
""adiock in the last Congress. delay
1uE other important District legis-
alton, is that the Fitzgerald bill
would nave Il revolving fund admin
i>tered by an existing federal agency.
while the Cnderhili would throw
compulsory Industrial insurance into
private companies.
There was a large attendance Of
LABOR organizers and representatives
n Of II IL
erS at the hearing
DIR. Andrews said that only the
district of Columbia and six southern
states had no workmen's compensa-
'inh. lie said that the District of
Columbia is especially in poor condi-
tl"n. because liability statistics have
never been gathered.
Dr. Andrews unhesitatingly de-
clared that the workers would pre-
Ter t" wait for industrial insurance
than to have the UnderhiIl bill passed
now.
He pointed out that an advantage
# the Fitzgerald bill is that there
lS an administra tive already at work
and experienced. the Fitzgerald bill
proposing To utilize that valuable eX-
rIrieuce.
Representative Underhill said there
vas no question regarding the deSira-
bllity of workmen'S compensation and
that the only issue is whether it
should be government administered or
ny private companies. He urged that
all other arguments have been fully
presented at hearings last year and
that consideration by the Suhcommit-
te" now should be limited to this one
main issue.
pr. Andrews said that vocational
rehabilitation was provided for III the
Fitzgerald bill and not in the Under
]3iil bill He described the FitzgeraId
ill as the only form of industrial
insurance that really does protect the
mployer and the work erS. COMPETE
i've Insurance is breaking down in
some cases. he said. that proving in
adequate. TIL" government fund is
III" only ON" that is standing up in
practice, he claimed
against Private DeaIs.
The government in administering
the fund. he said puts the burden on
business generally rather than on
Individual employers. or on insur-
anC" organizations.
IT is tn" only complete ard abSo-
Ntriy sale aESNcr to the problem. he
*tid. Til" hcnetits 10 workfnen in the
nderhill htll are not equal to those
III the Fitzgerald bill, and sometimes
~" premiums paid by employers are
:" per cent highcr. Dr. Andrews claim
ii. Under the t'itZs eraid bill the en-
I.rn cost Of administration of the fund
"'l be- borne DE employers and not
~ III" government, az has been
charged. he explained. At the same
time the governments admins stored
funds would protect employers
against rxploitations by private in
Surdnce concerns.
Wallace said that he believed Con-
gross Will eventually have to come
Ia tn. Fitzgerald bill. The workers
in the District. he emphasized. have
taken a stand that if they cannot
have the Fitzgerald bill now it
would Il" better TO wait until they
can get il.
No private Insurance company"
Mr. Wallace said. should be per
nitted 10 reap benefits from the
awakening OF public conscious"