The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-26


mems compensation legislation IN
the District of Columbia viii be
affected seriously by the retire
ment from the House District
Committee of Congressman Roy
Fitzgerald of Ohio, in the opinion
of friends of the proposed law.
His retirement practically dooms
the plan for compensation fund
Co be administered by the United
States Employees Compensation
Commission, it is held. If any
legislation is enacted along this
line. it is believed, it will be the
Underhill bill providing for adj
ministration of the fund by in
surance companies. This plan, ac-
cording to supporters of the Fitz-
gerald bill, will embroil injured
workmen in legal controversies to
secure justice.
Congressman Fitzgerald in the
last Congress was chairman of the
subcommittee of the House District
Committee on WorkInen's :-ompen-
sation. Largely through his efforts,
following. prolonged hearings, his
bill was reported to the House. too
late for final action, however, before
adjournment.
In this Congress, Craftsmanship
of the subcommittee goes to Con-
gresham Charles L. Underhil. of
Massachusetts,. bitter foe of the
Fitzgerald plan, and author of the
measure bearing his name.
The new subcommittee, which will
handle the bill, includes CONFESS.
man Oscar E. Keller, Minnesota,
and William c. Hammer, North
Carolina, both Of whom are friendly
TO the Fitzgerald bill. Two new
members have been added to the
subcommittee They are Congress-
MIN Henry L., Bowles, Massachu-
sets, colleague OF Congressman
Congressman Underhill is plan
ming tn make a final drive in this
Congress for enactment Of his bill.
VIII Continue Fight
congressman f1LZR6TalQ mas an
nounced that he will fight the Under
hill bill and will seek enactment of
his own measure. His withdrawal
from the District Committee. how
ever. his friends believe, will. be
fatal to his chances to have The
measure favorably reported out of
either the subcommittee or The
House District Committee The
best he can hope for, it is held is
3 minority report that the commit
tee in behalf Of his bill which prob
ably will fail in the House.
The fight over the Underhin and
Fitzgerald counter plans for work
mems injury insurance in the Dis
trtct has been one of the most bitter
which has wracked the last two
Congresses.
The House Committee in the last
Congress split over this question
more sharply than over any Dis
trict issue which was presented to
1t for action.
Grave charges of lobbying, cor
ruptton and intimidation were made
in the course Of hearings before the
subcommittee. Friends OF the Fitz.
gerald plan dubbed Underhill n
friend OF the interests" and tool
OF the insurance companies Fitz.
gerald was accused of unfair tactics
In handling Of Underhill witnesses
before the subcommittee.
Petitions from all parts of the
nation We're showered upon the com
rnittee advocating one or other Of
the pending plans
The deepest importance Is attached
to the District of Columbia plan
on the ground that it will serve as
a model for State laws.
Under the Fitzgerald plan, com.
pensation for injuries received by
workmen in any line of occupation
in the District would be paid from
fund administered by the Fed.
teral Commission, medical or surRi.
cal care and nursing fees also being
met from the fund.
The Underhill plan would turn
over this vast volume Of business
TO the insurance companies and
would compel employers to insure
their employees against injury.
Chief objections raised by friends
OF the Fitzgerald plan TO the
Enderhiii plan are that the neces
sary overhead of the companies
would increase the premiums and
reduce the benefits, that # would
result in a tendency to beat
down" the claims of the injured
worker and reduce his compensa.