The Daily Alaska empire., 1947-03-14
S0L0NSpA55
 EMPLOYERS
 RELIEF" BILL
Unemployment Compen- sation Contributions Are
 Trimmed by 5. B. 105

What Senator L .--gard D. Coffey described as the first employer relief bill he has seen introduced, passed the Alaska Senate yesterday afternoon by 13 to 3 vote, though opposed by at least one labor spokesman. Senate passage of s. B. 105 was the first major bit of leg islation done by the solons since their return from Sitka.
 The bill would set up system of employer experience rating credits under the Alaska Unem- ployment Compensation laws. AS explained by Marshall Keep, at torney for the Unemployment Com pensation Commission, it's passage could result in a number of em- ployers' being given "a free ride for the next several years, as far as contributions to the Territory's fund are concerned.
 Objections to the measure were voiced only by Senator Victor c, Rivers and by CIO and PAC Re- presentative Chris Hennings, who was called as a witness by Rivers. Rivers, with Senator Brownell and Green, cast the only votes against passage.
 Against All Of Elm
 Hennings' objection was gener- al one, against all forms of "eX- perience rating" plans. He referred vaguely to abuses discriminating against workers" under the charge back" plan instituted in New York, which was the first State to try any system of easing the employ CTS contribution burden. Hennings referred to a recommendation of the last National Labor Conference, advising that surplus in Unemp comp funds should be used, instead, to broaden the base of employee coverage. He suggested taking in farm and domestic workers and Territorial employees.
 When President Andrew Nerland asked him if passage of s. B. 105 would interfere with other mea- sures that could be introduced to broaden coverage, Hennings admit ted that it would not.
 Like One Section
 Hennings said the organizations he represents favor just one section of the hill-that reducing the wait ing time before an unemployed can file a claim for benefits, from two weeks to one week That section had been termed a rider to sweeten the bill for the organized groups opposed to reducing employ CT contributions, by Senator Rivers.
 Rivers asked Keep if the rider had not been attached for that purpose, but he answered that 1t was included in the bill setting up the experience rating system be- cause both had to do with the same lnatter-solvency of the Unemcomp Fund. Rivers also wanted to know who had decided which of two ap- breaches to use for disbursing sur plus in the fund l-experience rating to ease the tax on employ CTS; or, 2-increasing the benefits?
 Legislature Directed
 Keep answered that the Territor- ial UCC had instructed that bill for an experience rating system be drafted. The Commissioners, he added, were under a direction from the Legislature, Incorporated in the first UCC law passed, to make a study of rating plans. Keep did not agree with Senator Rivers conclusion that large employers would benefit most under s. B. l05.
 Previously attorney Keep had testified that an experience rating system is the only way provided under Federal law for states to re- Tduce contributions by employers when funds exceed any, expected call for benefit payments. Some form of experience rating plan is in effect in most States. Federal So- cial Security authorities have ap- proved the plan proposed for AL aska, which is similar to that in effect in the State of Washington,
 Evades Difficulties
 Keep said some difficulties, re-
 (Conttnued on Iage Eight)