The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-04-13
House Disogrees
on Amendments to
Compenso+ionLow
Assembly Approves Civil
Service Law Changes
After alterations
(By Ohio Labor News Service)

Hfter Alterations
(By Ohio Labor News Service)
Columbus, O.-Two measures of in
terest to organized labor were acted
upon by the 93rd General Assembly
last week, the first legislation of that
character to be considered by the leg
islative body since it was convened
January 2.
The results found the House and
Senate in disagreement over amend
ments to the workmen's compensation
law which had been drafted by joint
negotiating committee of employer
and labor representatives, and the
passage by the House of Representa-
tives of a substitute bill effecting
changes in the state civil service laws,
although seniority rights, an import
ant advancement, was deleted before
the bill was finally approved.
On Wednesday, the House approved
by vote of ia to House Bill 400,
which contained the "agreed" amend
ments to the workmen's compensation
law, but it was amended on the floor
by vote of SO to Al before passage.
The amendment makes it possible
for attorneys to participate in accrued
compensation granted an injured
worker on successful application for
modification of award for a period of
time up to ten years, which the bill
attempted to limit to two years as a
protection to the workers award.
On Thursday, the Senate approved
by vote of 26 to 1 Senate Bill 131,
identical with House Bill 400. There
were no amendments offered to the
bill in the Senate, and the two-year
limitation on accrued compensation is
included in the measure as sent to the
House.
Hearing of the Senate's action, a
motion was made in the House to re-
consider the vote by which House Bill
400 was passed as amended, but a mo-
tion to lay the reconsideration pro-
posal on the table carried, forestalling
further action on the House measure
Outcome of the temporary deadlock
was moot question as the Assembly
adjourned for the weekend.
A substitute bill embracing features
Of three separate measures introduced
on the subject of civil service in the
House of Representatives was ap-
proved by that branch of the General
Assembly by vote of 70 to 3S after
an amendment striking out a provision
for seniority rights in layoffs and re-
placements had been adopted by a
standing vote Of Sc to 80.
Adoption of this amendment changes
the attitude Of the Democratic minor.
ity in the House towards the bill
which was termed "just another rip.
per" and "mockery and insult" The
amendment was offered by Represent
ative Walter Tarr, (R), Cincinnati.
Representative w. II. Whetro, (D)
Ironton, an organizer for the A. +. OF
L., declared that the deletion of senior
ity rights from the substitute bill made
the measure unacceptable" to labor
and moved that it be recommitted tt
committee.
This motion was laid on the table
by a preponderant party standing
vote.
AS the substitute bill in it's amend
ed form passed the House, it increases
the state civil service commission from
two members to three, with the pres
ent commissioners retaining thei
posts for the balance of their terms il
office and Governor Bricker appoint
ing an additional member.
improvements to the civil service
law as it affects state employees con
sists Of extending the right of appea
to include reductions in pay or posi-
ton, lay offs or suspensions, in addi
tion to appeals on removal.
Representatives of the American
Federation Of State, County ant
Municipal Employees, AFL affiliate
and other groups supporting reform
and improvement of the civil service
laws, expressed the opinion that th'
approved bill is forward step, bu
a short one with seniority deleted."
The substitute bill is expected to re
ceive early consideration in the Sen
ate, inasmuch as it has the approva
of Governor Bricker.