Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-27

SAYS MAI, THAyER
LEWISTON ADDRESS
Lewiston. Me-, April 26-Speaking
before meeting of labor men here
this evening. Major Arthur L. Thayer
OF Bangor, candidate for nomination
FOR governor In the Republican prim-
aries In June, declared that failure
to provide deputy commissioner of
labor Is false economy and that grave
danger to public rights is thereby
threatened. There is no excuse for
this failure" said Major Thayer, who
urged his auditors to insist upon
| proper machinery being provided for
the functioning Of the department of
| labor, in accordance with the laws.
Major Thayer commenced his ad-
dress by touching upon the import
| ance to the average workingman of
| the Workmen's Compensation Act and
| paid splendid tribute to the late
! Hon. Roscoe A. Eddy, former COM
| missioner of labor, as always tireless
| in his efforts to bring about the en-
| actment Of this law and also in his
! constant work in behalf of the work
! ing man.
| Mr.. Eddy, made a member of the
commission to administer the act
gave utmost devotion to his new du-
! ties and, remarked Major Thayer
$50 long as he lived no employer or
: n1nI-no ;,@@
| fected by the act, ever turned in vain
to him for assistance. His death in
July, 1924 was a great loss to the
| State of Maine"
Continuing Major Thayer said in
part:
! Working with Mr.. Eddy, as dep
uty commissioner of Labor, was Char
les Q. Beals, present commissioner
a man unusually we'll fitted for the
/ work in which he was enga ged and es-
| pecially well prepared to assume the
duties of Mr.. Eddy.
''Mr. Beals has had 10 deputy COM
missioner. and I wish particularly to
i stress this point. A condition exists
| at Augusta with respect to the Indus
i trial Accident Commission that
should not exist. When the trainers
of the Compensation Act prepared it
they not only created certain laws
governing the relations between en-
ployers and employed, but went far
| ther and created the machinery by
which the law was to be administered
and also provided the funds to pay
for the services of those whose duty
! it is to administer the Act.
| Members of the Industrial Acct
dent Commission are now a chair
man, an associate legal member. the
Commissioner of Labor, ex-offlcio, and
the Insurance Commissioner, ey-offi-
clio. Under the law now governing
the Department of Labor and Insur-
ance Commissioner are each suppos-
ed to have deputy commissioner
| Today there is no deputy in either
department, presumably on the
grounds of economy. This is false
/ economy and in it lies grave danger
Each year the Commissioner OF
Labor, as a member of the Industrial
Accident Commission. approves be-
! tween 1000 and 5000 agreements
, which have the force and effect of q
Judgment. A mistake on the part OF
I the commissioner works to the pre-
| JUDGE of one party or the other. The
| commissioner must also sit as g
member of the Commission in be-
tween 800 and 400 hearings annually
in determining the rights of parties
in cases where permanent impair
ment. medical bills, or lump sum set
| Elements are to be ascertained. This
necessitates between 10000 and 49,
/ 600 miles of travel annually.
His work as a member of the In
dustrial Accident Commission could
| we'll occupy the entire time of the
Commission of Labor, but that is
only a portion of the work demanded
Of him. His salary as a member OF
| the Commission is but $1,000, while
| his salary as Labor Commissioner Is
| $4,000. which indicates that the work
! described is only small part of his
| duties as fixed by law.
mo official in Maine fills more
responsible position, and certainly
! there is no department in which the
need of deputy is greater Today
Mr.. Bea1s is doing two mems work
/ for but one mans pay, and that toe
i small. He has not had a vacation in
| two years.
! Il call these matters to your at
| tention to remind you of the danger
which the situation contains in re-
gard to your own rights. Because
there is no deputy commissioner OF
, Labor being trained under Mr.. Beals
your rights are not properly protect
ed against contingencies that may
arise If anything should happen tc
Mr.. Beals there is not a man ir
Maine who could possibly properly fill
his place at once.
| "Mr. BeaIs should be left absolutely
| free to select a deputy commissioner
of Labor at once, not only because OF
possible contingencies, but also to re-
| lieve him from the double duty he is
now obliged to perform. Not to al
low him a deputy commissioner OF
Labor is unfair to Mr.. Beals, to the
department he represents, and to the
men, woman, and children of Maine
! whose interests he has in charge. You
men can help him in this by insisting
that he be allowed to select an assist
ant at once.
ITO neglect or to refuse to create
all the machinery provided in the
laws creating the Department of La
| Dor or the Industrial Accident Com
mission, particularly when the Leg
islature has provided the necessary
funds for the proper functioning of
all departments, is not right. After
| the citizens of Maine in Legislature
assembled have enacted laws creating
certain machinery to administer the
! affairs Of the State, there is no ex-
! cuse for not giving to the people the
fuI1 benefit of the laws thus created"