Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-19
ADVOCATES WORKERS
COMPENSATION BILL
fitzgerald Measure for Compulsory
Insurance in D. c. Urged by
J. H. Walker. :,
HEADS ILLINOIS LABOR BODY
Hearing by House Subcommittee
on Proposed Legislation.


quate and humane compensation for
working men and their dependent
families will never be solved in the
best interests of the workers, Of the
employers and of the public, or the
consumers, who finally must pay the
costs, until exclusive funds are pro-
vided, administered by men who will
not profit one farthing, but will see
that the people injured in industry
get their rights
This statement was made today by
j. H. Walker, president of the Illi-
nois State Federation of Labor. testi-
flying In favor of the Fitzgerald bill
for compulsory Industrial insurance
through an exclusive fund, govern
ment administered, for the District
OF Columbia, at a hearing before a
subcommittee of the House District
committee.
Cites Record in Ohio.
Mr.. Walker said that before he be.
Federation Of Labor ten years ago he
had occupied g. similar position in the
miners union. He told the subcom-
mittee that prior to the enactment of
the workmen's compensation law in
Ohio in many accident cases the en-
ploye got no compensation whatever.
Where death occurred, in 16 per cent
of the cases, $500 was secured after
an average of two years. contest, and
then the lawyers took the larger por-
ton of the $500.
He said experience showed that the
employers had men in every mine to
furnish information favorable to the
employer in the event of an accident.
and that in the majority of cases the
physicians considered it to their best
interests to make reports favorable
to the employer. Finally, he said,
many of the employers found it cost
them as much to maintain this army
of defense in event of these accidents
as 1t would cost them to make de-
cent settlements. AS result of this,
after extensive conferences, make
shift workmen'S compensation law
was passed and every two years since
conferences have been called by the
industrial commission which agreed
upon improvements.
At the last conference legislation
was desired for an exclusive fund,
but there was a compromise on a
resolution for an optional fund. AL
though there was practically no OPP
position. the legislature adjourned
without taking action.
Ninety-nine per cent of the in
surance companies. Mr.. Walker said,
are opposed to any progressive legis-
lation looking toward the protection
of the rights OF the workers.
1.-THE person who is injured has as
law" said Mr.. Walker, forget his
righst, when attorneys of the in
surance company are developing every
method of delay
Mr.. Walker told the Subcommittee
that in Illinois the miners union en-
ploys eight of the ablest attorneys
of the state to get such cases settled
promptly in accordance with the
meaning of the law. Besides this,
dence at the time of the accident and
five other office experts to work up
this evidence for the attorneys This
service cost 100000 last year to help
IN a fight against the insurance peo-
pie. he said.
Mr.. Walker presented statistics
from the reports of the casualty in
Surance companies showing that
where they collected s65 900 they
paid out only s27,000,000. having left
for themselves more than $4,000. 900
IN the state of Illinois. He gave SIM
liar statistics for New Jersey. Maine
and other states
Chairman Fitzgerald put into the
record that it was such profitable
business that enabled the Insurance.
SiHpaHieS 70 MAINTAIN powerful
LOBBY In an effort to defeat his bill.
1ndorse Fitzgerald BILL
vator w con Reyn9ids speaking for ele
the Fitzgerald bill. In reply to a
question from Representative Kuntz
or Illinois regarding the argument
that the field should be left open to
competition. Mr.. Reynolds said: "All
any man can ask is a fair deal. but
We feel that under existing condi-
tons the workman is not letting a
fair deal"
d. Forest L. Ormes. speaking for
moving picture operators union
favored the Fitzgerald bill and said
that settlements by insurance COM
panies are usually very slow
James j. Brosnahan, 926 New York
avenue. who said he has been a
brlcklayer in Washington for more
than thirty years, told Of his per-
sonal experience when injured ten
at the Howard Theater.
For six years he could not follow
his trade and suffers from the In
Jur1eS today. After waiting five or
six months, he accepted a settlement
of 500.
C. H. Adams, representing the car
penters' union and delegate to the
Central Labor Union, who has testified
told the subcommittee Of accidents
under his personal observation, where
he and other workmep were unable
to recover any compensation, and of
the hardship in having their pay i'm
mediately cut off. He said his or
ganization has been on record for
two years as favoring the Fitzgerald