Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-05-01
STATE BODY DIRECTS
MONTANAhS' attention
TO COMPENSATION ACT
Associated Industries Asserts
10000 of Our Citizens Re-
sponsible Should Act Become
q State Law.

Within the past few days petitions
tana communities calling for the pres
entation to the voters at the Novem
Der election OF so-called "Workmen' 4
Compensation Act"
This proposed initiative measure hae
been carefully analysed by the Assoc
ciated Industries OF Montana. Through
state manager George l. 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 tneeneefned with COM
pensation. The Association begins its
analysis as follows:
Who's Hooked7 10000!
Under the present Workmen's Com
pensation Act. liability for compensa-
tion is confined to specific occupations
commonly recognized a. hazardous
These are definitely enumerated and
ample provision Is made for protecting
those who are employed In those In
dustries. Under the present act. ac-
cording to the Montana Industrial
Accident Board. the total number of
employers who are now responsible IL
1898.
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-
PAT1ONS." 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 man or woman 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-
tion 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-
gate7 II will mean that. In place OF
the 1000 odd employers now respons-
fble, no less than 100000 to 10000
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
emit, 3,23S employers, practically the
entire adult population OF Montana
will rate az employers" ut 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 $4,000,
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 man to work
doing something not strictly agricul-
tural, as for instance, shingling the
barn or digging well; or again when
they have to call a mechanic to mend
tractor or carpenter to build them
a clubhouse.
Finally, some 10000 householders 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 man
who hires bookkeeper. stenographer
or clerk is also automatically included
AZ = responsible employer.
At least 10000 Montanans, hereto
fore rightfully and properly excluded
from liability, will now become m In
surer OF each and every man and
woman whom tho routine business OF
running = home, IN office or store
compelS them occasionally to employ.