The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-04-25
LEAVE The LEGISLATURE ~?


LEAVE IT TO THE LEGISLATURE 2?
LET the legislature amend the compensationaw is
the battle of the opposition to the Compensation
Initiative.
What value being another attempt
there in this newfound desire to help
disabled workers via the legislative route? brief glance
legislative history may be enightening conclusvely
show why the opposition is anxious for compensation
improvements from the legislature rather than by oil
vote of the people.
Twenty-eght years ago sody Republican Industrial
its annual report Republican Governor
Joe Dixon by name, stated:
workman disability a of poisoning
though he had been injured in the
those miners
(sicOsis) contracted the mines just dependent
children whose deaths due fall of
ground that the industry should
the burden those who have been rendered
of industry
this should vocational dis
accidental injuries.
"Outde of cement poisoning the se there but
industry the affected by vocational disease This is
the mining industry in Butte
gnt states now include vocalona osease IN ther
laws and its inclusion under consideration by number of other states
of the Legislature
hat Happened in the 1925 Legislature? Nothing.
Twentyseven and twentysix years of the
by them there Democrat the board and
the report made to Democratic Governor Said the board
The contraction Of seos just much hazard of the mining
the accidents that that industry results
of disability and of life than through the
accidents.
be
able condition included
the Montana Compensation Act To would ultimately bring about
vastly improved condition the hard rock because would result
larger expenditure for ventilation the elimination result
in a decrease in the of silcois victims"
What Happened in the 1927 Legislature? Nothing
Remember-that than Is years ago.
Any similarity between the above reports conditions
day purely coincdental.
In the since, while the number of states providing
workmens compensation for occupaona diseases has in
creased from eight to fortywo according to United States
Chamber of Commerce. the powerful ACM lobby Montana
has not only blocked making Scoss and other occupaona
diseases cOmpenab has also been able to keep weekly
pensaon payments for industrial accidents the lowest
in the nation.
Session after session. bills been introduced reastca
y improve the Compensation Act and to keep benefits
with the percentages disabilities established
original compensation of 1915 to broaden the
to include occupatonal diseases.
And session after ACM lobby successfully
kept all improvements at minimum.
Following devastating expose of how Slicoss killing
Butte miners Wholesale the lobby did to the
tent of permitting $50 month allowance for Sicotcs
to be paid for with Public Welfare funds This during
lowing decade of rising prices increased $40
and $50 in 1919 proposed increase session
died aborning in Senator Winters senate committee
In 1947 bitter battle developed moderate improve
ments in compensation payments to disabled HB68
proposing SIS weekly increase those AFTER pro-
he House. Widespread public protest Immediate Gov
Ford and of his wing of the COP locked
the lobby and forced through the VOTE
Ire SBl05 increasing weekly benefits by $3.50 House.
having felt immense from constituents approved the
Increase. IA
In 1949 the companys strength it's lowest ebb in