The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-26
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A Threat to the Disabled
Governor Langer's action In re-
moving r. e. Wenzel as member Of
the workemen's compensation bureau
Is, In some respects. one Of the worst
things he has done during his term
Is an executive.
That it Is q gross injustice to Wen
eel is apparent to all who have exam
1ned the evidence In the case. The
various charges were supported by
only the vaguest sort Of testimony.
There was nothing to prove that
Wenzel had not been an efficient
public servant In the post which he
had held for more than 10 years:
nothing to prove that he was not a
careful conservator OF the public
funds and fair, II not always tact
Sul. administrator.
The situation IS not cleared in the
least by tho governors removal or
der. It merely states that the deci-
sion Is based on good and sufficient"
grounds in the executives Judgment.
There Is no explanation as to what,
It anything, Wenzel was guilty Of. II
the governor were careful OF what
ever reputation he may have as an
exponent Of even-handed justice, he
would not resort to such indefinite
language but would definitely name
the charges OF which he found Wen
eel guilty. His failure to do SO is a
confession that his action was based
only on considerations Of political ex-
pediency.
That this expediency Is liable to be
disastrous to many North Dakotans.
most of whom can i'll afford to have
a dirty deal imposed on them. is self
evident to anyone who Is familiar
with the functions Of the workmen's
compensation bureau.
The politically expedient thing
seems to have been to seize control
of this organization, levy the usual
five per cent on its rather hefty pay
roll and otherwise operate 1t as q
political rather than business
proposition.
Two classes Of citizens will be the
principal sufferers under the situa-
tion which inevitably will be created.
The first and most tragic group win
be the people who. having been In
capacitated by industrial accident,
are dependent on the bureau for all
Or part OF their support. The second
group is composed Of the employers
who must keep this fund solvent If
the disabled are to get the money
which already has been allotted to
them.
Let us see how any attempt to rape
the workmen's compensation fund,
which now seems in prospect, will
react on these groups.
The first result, in all probability,
will be loosening Of the restrictions
which keep persons not injured In
industry from becoming beneficiaries.
The fund Is not intended to care for
ell accident victims but only for
those injured in connection with their
work. II political pull Is going to
Influence the acceptance Of shady
claims, the cost Of the insurance will
rise even more rapidly than Il has
in the last few years and premium
charges will sky-rocket.
As long as the employers can bea,
the burden, the beneficiaries Of the
fund will get their money, but when
that time ends, as 1t surely will when
such an insurance business is run on
, political basis, the fund will be
unable to pay. When the end comes
widows and orphans will no longe,
get the money which they have every
right to expect and upon which they
have based their futures. The result
II such thing comes to pass, will b
unutterable tragedy In thousands o.
homes.
This situation, Of course, viii mol
become apparent immediately. BE.
cause this is . large business and pos.
sosses huge sum Of money. It vii
take time for evil practices to show
their result. But the effect Of suct
system Is as inevitable as the set.
ting Of the sun. It will be . simpl.
matter Of cause and effect.
An immediate result OF the chane'
effected BY the Wen1el removal prob
ably win b Tho granting q man,
teretofore rejected claims. That M
be good politics, TOR every individua
% favored may - counted upon X
support the group which favors him
~ . v0te-getttng measure It will b
effective, especially 50 since the ad
verse results Of such action win no
30 Immediately apparent to other
who are legitimate beneficiaries o
M Alnd.