The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-12-03
was discharged for his activity.

| 1889 legislative investigation as fol-
lows:
GAS to one particular office, that Of
the Labor Co-ordinator, we feel that
the supervision OF this employee
should be under the department OF
labor We find that he has not made
written reports, tina the has kept no
records of files relating to his activi-
ties, and his testimony shows that his
particular department costs the state
Of Montana approximately $550.00 per
month. At the present time he is re-
ceiving a salary OF 100000 a month
from the highway commission and
$4,000 a month from the water con-
servation board, and in addition, sub
sistence while in the field at the rate
of $500 per day together with the
cost of transportation. This particu-
lar witness was unable to furnish the
committee with any detailed and def
mite information of his past activi-
ties"
| Not having at hand copy Of the
report, the writer cannot go further
than what you quote.
A member of the legislative investi-
eating committee inquired of the writ
er as to the usefulness of the Labor
Co-ordinator, the subject of salary and
expense account being discussed. The
writer replied that if the Labor Co.
ordinator was given service for the
money expended, then he should be
retained. If he was not, then his sal
airy and expense should be reduced.
However, the writer stated that the
Labor Co-ordinator was doing a good
job, as the trouble shooter and the
money the state was paying for that
work was not extortionate.
During the administration Of Gov
ernor Cooney, it is quite probable
that the cost of shooting labor trouble
on highway construction cost more
than $4,000 per month, when the
labor situation on highway work was
| in an acute, critical and explosive con-
dition, with prevailing wage case In
the courts, strikes on with union
pickets and contractor and his fore
man in the same Jail for taking phys
ical culture exercises and practising
the manly art of self defense. About
that time there were a number of
state highway employees and engi-
neers making survey of wages and
working conditions in different parts
of the state which must have cost
the state considerable money, not to
It'll IA
during Governor Ayers administration
that labor trouble shooting was as
signed to one man in the belief that
it was the cheapest way of handling
the problem
The Labor Co-ordinator had to make
report of his expenses stating where
he had been, which had to be ap-
proved by the board of examiners or
he would not have received payment |
for his travel expenses.
The Labor Co-ordinator took his or
ders from the state highway engineer |
or water conservation engineer and |
when he returned to the office he
reported what he had accomplished |
and there was no necessity of making
copies of what labor trouble he had |
adjusted for the state archives.
Mr.. Nichols, who was Labor Co-or- /
dinator when that office was abolished
did not receive salary of $4,000
month, neither did he have an ex-
pense account of $4,000 a month and
he can give an accounting of all his
work as Labor Co-ordinator, If it is
desired to file the same in the state
archives.
Some 10 years ago on highway
job, there were 16 men
working for contractor, injured in
six weeks time. suffering from broken
ribs or collar bones and there have
been in the past too many accidents
on highway construction. These ac-
cidents are costly and the compensa-
ton for highway construction acct
dents are paid out of the state fund.
The more accidents, the higher the
premiums paid by the employer for
insurance of his employees. The con-
tractors in bidding for highway con-
tracts add the cost of compensation
premiums to his bid Therefore the
cost of accidents are added to the cost
Of highway construction. Ninety-eight
percent of all accidents are avoidable.
Messrs. Schofield and Nichols are
highly experienced men, who at a J
glance can tell when me are exposed
o undue hazardous working condi-
ions. While Labor Co-ordinator, Mr..
Schofia1d did eafatv work in coni11nc- | .
ion with his work as trouble shooter, :.
ind more than once he called the at !
ention of the foreman on construc-
ion work and the engineer in charge
If the work that workmen on the job 7
we're being made to labor under I'M
necessary extra hazardous conditions
md explained how it could be avoided. +
The advice of Mr.. Schofield was taken
nd working conditions made safer.
The maximum compensation paid l.
or fatal injuries by workmen on high
way or dam construction is $4,000
nd for injuries resulting in perma- =
ent total disabilities the compensa-
ion is $10,500.00 paid out of the state y
und Therefore, If through the fore u
light of the Labor Co-ordinator the y
fe of one worker was saved each n
ear, or one workman prevented from u
ecoming permanently totally dis d
bled, besides the other accidents pre- II
ented, the $550.00 per month COM IL
lained about being paid to a Labor Id
o-ordinator was money well spent by III
80 80