NOME LEGISLATORS LABOR
IN WORTHY CAUSE
Senator Brown, If Re-elected,
Will Introduce This Bill
A new workmen’s compensation
act is badly needed in the Territory
of Alaska. The present one is in
adequate and fails in many ways
to meet the present requirements.
In order to remedy many defects
and to devise more equitable re
turns for the injured or for the de
pendents of employees killed, sev
eral representatives from the Nome
division have given serious thought
and made thoro investigation of
methods adopted in many states, so
that the Territory might profitably
adopt new ideas and methods.
Senator Brown and Representa
tives Wilson and Decker have intro
duced, the former in the Senate and
the latter two in the House, a bill
that many who have examined it
believe will meet present require
ments and prove fair to employer
and employee alike. One of its im
portant features is the provision for
the creating of an Industrial Insur
ance Fund and the provision for
the office of Industrial Commission
er.
The matter of compensation, where
injury has resulted in the perfor
mance of duty, has been a serious
consideration in most of the states
of the Union, and in some instances,
as at Olympia recently, representa
tives of organized labor, agents of
employers’ associations and the state
Industrial Commissioner, got togeth
er and finally agreed upon a meas
ure that was acceptable to all inter
ests and which was then passed by
the Washington Legislature. A
writer in referring to probable leg
islation on this subject very aptly
said:
“In considering amendments to the
workmen’s compensation act, the
Legislature should not forget the
main fact, that the victims of indus
trial accidents and their dependents
should have full justice. Bargain
ing over miserable dollars and per
centages which if increased or di
minished measure the bread and but
ter and shoes and stockings for or
phaned children and widowed moth
ers, is not an inspiring spectacle.
The compensation for injured work
men or for their families, under
schedules fixed when the necessities
of life were much cheaper, is now
too low. By every proper standard
of human justice the awards should
be increased to keep abreast of the
changing economic conditions.”
Senator Brown and Representa
tives Decker and Wilson are earnest
ly striving to secure legislation that
will prove fair and helpful to those
who have been unfortunate thru in
dustrial accidents, or to their depen
dents. They are anxious to pass a
bill that will be as fair as it is
humanely possible to conceive, to all
persons concerned. They have sent
copies of their bill to various sec
tions of the Territory, with the idea
of receiving constructive criticism
and suggestions that might lead to
the greater strengthening and value
of the bill. This is one of the most
important matters to be considered
at this session of the Legislature
and if the gentlemen from Nome
who are sponsoring this measure
fail to secure the best results it
will certainly be thru no fault or ef
fort of theirs.—(By Will Steel of
Cordova).
ROME RULE
There are some who now cry loud
ly for “full territorial” government
and yet they are the strongest sup
porters of our carpet bag system.
These people will be found fight
ing against the controller bill next
year. They are against the full
exercise of our powers to the extent
of our organic act. What they claim
to wish is an act of congress—be
cause they realize that is a thing
impossible of attainment for a long
time yet.
The test of sincerity is this: let
all Alaskans exercise to the fullest
the powers that congress has already
given us. We can elect our own
treasurer instead of allowing the
federal governor and surveyor gen
eral to appoint him. We can have
our own elected secretary of the
Territory. These men with the at
torney general can manage all our
territorial institutions. Why should
we not manage the Pioneers’ Home
for instance ? Can we mismanage
that institution any worse than Gov
ernor Riggs did?
WANTED--A HARD JOB
Forbid for me an easy place,
0 God, in some sequestered nook
Apart to lie,
To doze and dream and weaker grow
And less and less to do or know
Until I die!
Give me, 0 Lord ,a task so hard
That all my powers shall taxed be
To do my best;
That I may stronger grow in toil,
For harder service fitted be,
Until I rest!
This my reward—development
From what I am to what thou art.
For this I plead!
Wrought out by being wrought upon
By deeds reflexive, done in love,
• For those in need!
—Charles Earle.
GEORGE OHASHI
GROCERIES, CIGARS
POOL
Rooms Upstairs
124-126 Stedman Street
Ketchikan, Alaska
The 55 TAXI
Day or Night Service
Ketchikan, Alaska
/
Everything for the
Fisherman to Wear
-At
P. J. GILMORE’S
---'
r
ALBERT REINERT
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ladies’ and Gents’ Furnishings, Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes
v.
PIONEER CAFE
PIONEER BUILDING
IS A GOOD PLACE TO EAT
For Supplies of
MERCHANDISE AND LUMBER
Consult
METLAKATLA COMMERCIAL CO.