The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-03-27
VOTE YES ON
COMPENSATION
AMENDMENT.

Voters wh" - Co. rhr polls at ia"
genera election vu Aprlt viii b.
allied upon Q" Ipp!'Nr OF reject an
m u'lmcut 10 the '.lN charter Great
.ns 10y charter provision. q Work
lneI. = Compcn>i iul Board 81 The city
of Wyandottr
l.tWr, nee j LaCour~,.. secretary "i
he Board. points out that this amend
m'l. does not propose 10 establish
new agency, board OF department, but
merely establishes BY charter amend
nrnt Board that has been Ia sue
ceS>fuI operation since 1872 by Ordin-
ancr only Passage of the amendment
would place the Board on perunan-
cnt. legal basis. and would prevent
future adminiStrat lions from using the
fund for purposes other than hose
intended.
The history of the Workmen'S Com
penSatiOn Board in WyandOtte is an
inter, sting example of how fore
thought and efficiency can effect ire
mendOus savings in municipal admin
iStratiOn. Prior to 1872 the city insur
ed its compensation obligation, the
premium for this covt rage being ap-
prOXimately $1,000 per year. In 1872
the city set up its own Compensation
Board by ordinance and elected To be-
come SslfinSurerS The Board con
SiStS of one member from each city
department who serve without remun-
Grafton Premiums are paid into the
fund on the same basis as under the
insurance company rates and during
the ten years of opert ton the city has
saved in excess of $J0OOO. Physical
examinations are given city employees
pt riodically and the Board employs a
recognized safety engineer from time
to time To inspect city properties and
working conditions for the purpOSe of
eliminating hazardous conditions, if
any exist.
Moreover. the Board gives Il more
liberal Interpretation of the comps IL
satiOn law than would a private in
Surancc company. For instance, the
law limits the time during which he
city is liable for INT dical care and
hOSpitaIizati ton, but the Wyandot'e
BOARD does not take advantage of this
imitation and provides every possible
medical. surgical and hospital care. aS
kong us disability continues in order
that the injured emplOye may recover
quickly and completely and return %
klS duties
At the present time the city Of De
rOit is considering following the eX-
ample of WyandOtte and setting up its
own WOrkmen's Compensation Board.
W n. Kelsey, commentator Of the DE
iroit News, recently commented fay
orably on the experience of the Com
p,.nSatiOn Board at WyandOtte. 1T
seems conclusive" said Mr. Kelsey
that an efficiently operated Cumpen
>atiOn Board can effect substantial
savings for the city. The city of Wy
audOIte certainly proves it,"
The WOrkmen's Compensation
Beard recommends Yes vote OH
The amendment on April Is.
City Council Endorses
the Amendment
The following resolution was umni-
moIISly adopted by the City COuncii az
it> meeting Tuesday night:
aSOtrcd by the City Council Of the
cry of WyandOtte,
Whereas, this Council has authOriZ-
rd the submission to the electors of
the city of WyandOtte of chiIter
amendment relative to wOrkmen
compensation to he voted on April u.
1912; and
Whereas. This Council is of the
opinion that the WOrkmen'S COmpen
>atiOn Board of the city of WyandOtte
should h. ~ established as part of the
charter of the city of WyandOtte; and
Whereas. proposal number 1 con-
templates the establishment by char
ter nj said Compensation Commits
sion.
Therefore he il resolved that this
Council does hereby approve and eli
dorSe Thc said charter amendment,
proposal number 1, and recommends
to Ihr citizens Of the city "a yes vote