The Washington times., 1924-01-26
lJNDERH|LL
MEASURE:
FLAYEO
Witnesses Hold U. S. Control
Is Essential for Proper
Administration.

Creation Of an insurance fund
under Government supervision
for the compensation Of employees
disabled or killed while in the
service Of private Washington
concerns was favored by wit
ndsses who testified today at the
initial meeting Of q special sub
committee of the House District
Committee.
ID. @. Tagging Behind.
DR.. John b. Andrews, secretary
Of the American Association for
Labor Legislation, declared that
only the District Of Columbia and
six southern States now had no
workmen's compensation provisions.
He declared that conditions in the
District were especially bad and
that no effort had been made to
even secure liability statistics for
the District.
Andrews bitterly opposed the pro-
visions Of the Underhill Workmefl's
Compensation Bill, which provides
for the payment Of compensation
through a fund administered by. prt-
vate insurance companies.
1.-THE bill now pending before this
COMMITTEES which was introduced by
Congressman Fitzgerald and which
provides for a government admin
istered fund" he said, Els the only
form of wurkmen's compensation
insurance which should be con-
sidered. Experience in other states
has shown that the other form OF
insurance 10 absolutely inadequate
and in some cases is actually
breaking down.
u. s. Insurance Best.
"The Government supervised fund
puts the burden upon business gen.
orally rather than upon a private
concern which may prove unable
to meet its obligations and Is the
only complete and absolutely sare
solution of the problem"
He cited an instance where Call:
fornia insurance companies failed
and left the families of worlttnen
unprovided for. He also cited the
recent New York scandal in which
it Is alleged private firms short
changed employees for total OF
approximately $1,000 900. d
He stated that In the Fitzgerald
bill the cost Of the insurance and
the administration charges are borne
by the employers and not by the
Government. He declared that the
Government supervision Of the fund
would guarantee protection to en-
p1oyers against exploitation by/pri-
Vate concerns. He declared that the
Underhill bill would create instr
aI1ce for which the employers would
have to pay premiums 30 per cent
higher than under the Fitzgerald
bill and would at the same time re-
ceive less protection.
q. B. Insurance Seen.
Edgar Wallace, appearing on be.
half Of the American Federation Of
Labor, declared that Congressman
would eventually come around to the
Fitzgerald bill.
''There, is no reason why any
private insurance company should
reap the benefit from the awakening
Of public conscience" said Wallace.
He declared that the workers Of
the District Of Columbia are EN-.
nl1Atically in favor Of the Fitzgerald
bill and that II this measure cannot
be PASSED during the present session
or Congress, It will be better to walt
until the measure can be passed by
another Congress than to have the
Underwood measure enacted.
Called Model Bill.
He declared that the greatest
care should be exercised In franz
ing the district workermans com.
pensation bill, asst will undoubtedly
be used as a model for the nation.
Congressman Roy G. Fitzgerald
Of ohio, the author Of the bill bear.
ing his name presided. Other MEM
berg Of the committee are Con-
gresham Charles l.. Underhill Of
Massachusetts, r. Keller of Mime.
sofa, Stanley H. Kunz OF Illinois,
and Ralph Gilbert Of Kentucky.