Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-05-01
STATE BODY DIRECTS
M0NTANANS' ATTENTION
TO COMPENSATION ACT
Associated Industries Asserts
10000 of Our Citizens Re-
sponsible Should Act Become
a State Law.

Within the past few days petitions
have been circulated in various Mon
tana communities calling for the pres
entation to the voters at the Novem.
Der election OF a so-called "Workmen's
Compensation Act"
This proposed initiative measure has
been carefully analysed by the Asso-
ciated Industries Of Montana. Through
state manager George |. Martin the
Association has prepared and issued a
booklet defining the provisions OF the
Act.
The proposed act vitality concerns
scores Of thousands OF Montana peo-
pie. hitherto unconcerned with com
%pensation. The Association begins its
analysis as follows:
Who's Hooked? 10000!
Under the present Workmen's Com
pensation Act, liability for compensa-
ton is confined to specific occupations
commonly recognized as hazardous.
These are definitely enumerated and
ample provision is made for protecting
those who are employed In these In
dustries. Under the present act, ac-
cording to the Montana Industrial
Accident Board, the total number OF
employers who are now responsible is
3,238.
Section 2S47 OF the proposed Initia-
tive measure omits the words 'inher
emily hazardous" which appeared In
the old act and specifically states that
THIS ACT APPLIES TO ALL OCCU-
PATIONS." This is vitality significant.
For with one stroke OF the pen, by
emitting the words Inherently hazard
Gus" the sponsors of the new act i'm
mediately and automatically bring into
the liability class every conceivable
person In the state who ever has occa-
sion to hire a nan or III to do a
job, with two exceptions only, viz
domestic servants and farm and ranch
hands.
And even these two classes Of work
ers become liabilities for compensa-
ton II and when the employer under
the act sets them to work doing any
task that is not exclusively domestic
service" or strictly dairy. agricultural,
vitacultural or horticultural labor or
stock or poultry raising"
What will this mean in the aggre-
gate? 1t will mean that, In place OF
the 5000 odd employers now respons-
ible. no less than 100,0 900 to $50, 900
Montana people are seriously menaced
by the wording OF this act; that func-
tioning under the proposed law they
will become financially liable for any
and all accidents incurred during the
course OF even the most casual en-.
ployment for which they are respons
ible.
1t means that in place OF the pres
ent, 1928 employers, practically the
entire adult population Of Montana
will rate as employers" at some time
or other. These new employers" will
include. for example. 9,755 Montana
merchants, hitherto immune, who will
now come within the scope Of the act.
From the great department store
owner to the humblest shop keeper
with one clerk, all are included.
For all those In the employ Of gov
eminent = city, county. state, and
school district-estimated at 10000,
the taxpayers will be responsible, with
probable substantial additions to the
already heavy tax burdens.
Farmers, 10000 OF them, will be-
come liable under the new act when
ever they put the hired mar to work
doing something not strictly agricul-
tural, as for instance, shingling the
barn or digging q well; or again when
they have to call q mechanic to mend
a tractor or a carpenter to build them
a clubhouse.
Finally. some 10000 householdsrs Of
the state will become employers" and
therefore liable whenever the smallest
job requires the services of a carpen-
ter, painter. paper-hanger, or common
laborer about the place. Every mar
who hires a b%oOkkeeper. stenograpAer
or clerk 10 also automatically included
az 4 responsible employer.
At least $780, 900 Montanans. hereto
fore rightfully and properly excluded
from liability. will now become an In
surer OF each and every man and
woman whom the routine business OF