1 w -
Salem Scene
Modernization Proposed for
Industrial Accident Program
Oregon's workmen's compen
sation law has been in effect
for 50 years. It provides pay
ments to workers involved in
industrial accidents, through an
employer-paid insurance pro
gram. Some legislators feel the 1913
vintage system is no longer ade
quate for either employee or em
ployer, and that the Oregon law
has not kept pace with most
other states. As a result, two pro
posals have been introduced
which according to their pro
ponentswould revise and
"modernize the state's work
men's compensation program.
One bill, S. B. 30 (often called
the "competitive" bill), was in
troduced by the Senate Labor
and Industries Committee. We
asked its chairman, Sen. Walter
Pearson (D-Multnomah), to de
scribe the problems in the
present system.
"Primary problem Is the exist
ing law, Itself," he said. "It was
one of the earliest laws of its
type, written at a time when
no one knew much about work
men's compensation."
He explained that it'originally
was designed to apply to haz
ardous industries only, with only
one source of insurance a state
fund, administered by the Slate
Industrial Accident Commission,
An employer had a choice of
either accepting or rejecting this
coverage. But he could not ob
tain insurance from any other
source.
If an Injured worker for a
non-covered employer could, in
a lawsuit, prove negligence, he
was entitled to collect damages.
S.B. 30, explained Sen. Pear
son, would inject competition in
to Oregon's workmen's compen
sation system, "to the advan
tage of workers and employ
ers." "It retains the slate fund as
an insurer," he said, "and also
permits employers to obtain
coverage, if they wish, from a
private Insurance source, cr
through self-Insuring." Private
industrial accident insurance is
available In 43 states. In 33 of
these, state insurance Is non
existent. The bill also calls for "uni
versal" coverage for all work
ershazardous and non-hazardous
with very few excep
tions. "S. B. 30 also provides a better
appeals system, as well as an
independent hearing board on
claims," he added. "The present
system is bad, because the State
Industrial Accident Commission
is confronted with many con
flicting functions. It now acts as
the insurance company, regula
tory agency, court, judge and
jury."
Benefits now paid to injured
workmen under the SIAC "in
surance monopoly" system were
criticized by Seii. Pearson, who
claims they are "too low" in
comparison to the rates, and
barely adequate for a person to
live on. He says a competitive
system would provide "better
benefits and have little effect
on the rates."
Under S. B. 30, Insurance rates
would be based on an employ
er's accident and safety exper
ience. It also offers "a better
safety and workman rehabilita
tion program," Sen. Pearson
claims. The latest improvements
in safety techniques from
throughout the nation will be
available to Oregon workers and
employers if private insurance
companies are allowed to pro
vide coverage in the state, he
points out.
Another bill, S.B. 370, has
been introduced following many
months work by a specially
appointed "Governor's Advisory
Committee on Workmen's Com
pensation." This group, selec
ted in 1961, consisted of repre
sentatives from management,
organized labor and the state.
Also Intended as a cure for
the state's antiquated workmen's
compensation system, this bill
doesn't go far enough, accord
ing to Sen. Pearson. It does par
allel S. B. 30 in some respects,
however.
"But S. B. 370 would still leave
by reflate red pharmacists.
HUMPHREYS
REXALL DRUG STORE
Mr. and Mrs. Bod Murray
217 N. Main Ph. 678-9610
Two Registered Pharmacists At Tour Service Around The Clock
Nights. Sundays and holidays call 676-9611 or 676-5SU
by Robert H. Eisner
the state with an insurance mon
opoly, even though it claims to
open the door for self-insurers,"
he said. "Due to its rigid re
quirements for these self-insurers,
it would limit this to a few
major employers." It does not
provide for private insurance.
Organized labor gener ally
supports S.B. 370. Management
has come out in favor of S.B.
30. Latest developments in the
Senate Labor and Industries
Committee has been to urge rep
resentatives from both groups
to meet and attempt to reach
la compromise.
Sen. Pearson predicted a com
promise bill will result, "incorp
orating the best parts of both
'bills particularly regarding ad
ministration, appeals and hear
ing boards, safety programs and
I rehabilitation procedures."
He believes a compromise bill
will call for universal coverage,
but that it will be a "2-way"
bill. This means employers will
have a choice of insuring
through the state or through
self-insuranct by posting a large
bond. However, in the latter in
stance, they will probably have
the right to re-insure their lia
bility with an outside (private)
carrier, he felt.
"In its final form," Sen. Pear
son concluded, "the compromise
bill will more closely resemble
the original intent of the 'Gov
ernor's Advisory Committee' pro
posals. This was not the case in
the language of S. B. 370 as it
was introduced."
Deposits Reach
$6,148,471 Total
At First National
First National Bank of Oregon
reported record high deposits
and loans for the first quarter
of the year, President Ralph J.
Voss announced.
Deposits of $970,190,000 were
reported March 18, as compared
with $i93,7(0,887 in March of
last year. Loans outstanding
among the bunking system's 91
offices totaled $508,559,531 for a
gain of $06,487,013 over the
March, 1962 figure. Resources
topped the $1 billion mark.
Hgures were announced in re
sponse to the quarterly call for
statements of condition by the
Comptroller of the Currency.
lne ileppner branch of First
National reported first quarter
deposits of $6,148,471 and loans
outstanding of $3,484,512, ac
cording to Branch Manager J. H.
Bedford.
Comparable totals for the
branch a year ago were $5,178,-
718 in deposits and $2,657,867 in
loans.
During the first quarter of 1963
the First National Bank added
the University Branch in Eugene
to the statewide system, Voss
said.
Five new branch offices cur
rently are under construction,
with opening dates set for this
year. The new Madras branch
will open In April and Portland
offices at Burlingame, 5th and
College Street and the new
Standard Plaza will open later.
Construction of a second Spring
field branch was started this
month.
Club Hears Reports
April 2 was the date of the
meeting held at the Pine Cltv
schoolhouse by the Butterereek
Junction Livestock club. The
club heard two reports. One was
by Jim Ashbeck and Allen With
errite on "How to Disinfect a
Hog House," and the other was
by Carla Luciani on the "Junior
Leader's Duties." Sharon With
errite and Tom Ashbeck were
the visitors.
Ed French, reporter
Bob Mahoney and fiance,
Sherrie Wager, Pacific Univer
sity, are visiting during spring
vacation with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Phil Mahoney.
LIVE LONGER
Guard your health! Follow your
physician's instructions to the
letter ... we do! The prompt,
accurate filling of his prescrip
tions Is our business.
AH prescriptions promptly filled
Services Held at Monument for Richard Robertson
By MARTHA MATTESON
MONUMENT Fun e r a 1 ser
vices for Richard Earl Robert
son, Burns, were held Thurs
day, March 28, at the Monument
Presbyterian church, with the
Rev. Frank Goodwin, minister
of the Burns Christian church,
officiating. Mr. Robertson died
March 25 at 9 p.m. at Burns,
at the age of 54 years, 4 months.
He was born November 3, 1908
at Monument, the son of trie
late Clarence and Effie Viola
Ervin Robertson. He was married
to Anne E. Robertson at Fossil
on May 20, 1929, and spent most
of his life in the Monument area
and in Wallowa. They moed to
Burns in July, 1962, where lie was
a maintenance carpenter, mem
ber of Lumber and Sawmill
Workers Local Union 2902, Burns.
Surviving relatives include his
widow, Anna E.; his mother,
Effie Viola Lovely; three sons,
Robert, William and Richard;
four daughters, Carol Doherty,
Anna June Nlswender, Irrria
Irene Doble, Cleta and Donna
Robertson; one sister, Rozella
Roza; four brothers, Zirl, Lewis,
Leonard and Lyle; 15 grand
children; an aunt, Minnie Gam
ble of Monument.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Martin
drove to Heppner last Friday on
business.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred McWillis
spent March 27 and 28 visiting
in Redmond.
Mrs. Theo May Johns and two
children of Prairie City visited
recently with her father, Chuck
Van Detta and family and
friends.
The Stanley Boyer family
spent the week-end of March
29, 30 in Salem where they at
tended the wedding of Mr. Boy
er's niece, Miss Nancy Healy. The
bride is the daughter of Mrs.
Herb Copeland of Salem.
Mrs. Stella McCarty drovo to
Portland March 30, returning
home with her daughter, Miss
Aleanne Reynolds, who has fin
ished her course at Beauty
School In Portland.
Fits your plan for modern living. . .
QUICK RECOVERY
ELECTRIC
WATER HEATING
No flues or vents
fits anywhere
dependable and clean!
I
A Quick Recovery electric water heater
gives you all the hot water you need, any
time you need it. And because electricity
requires no messy flues or expensive
vents, you can tuck your Quick Recovery
electric water heater away in that extra
closet or under the stairs . . . any place out
of the way.
See your appliance dealer right away.
You'll be delighted with the efficiency
and convenience of a modern Quick Re
covery electric water heater.
Pacific Power & Light Company
You
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Martin
returned March 27 from Sacra
mento, Calif., where they had
spent 10 days visiting their
daughter and family, the Charlie
Williams.
D. L. Matteson of Milton
Freewater were recent visitors
with his folks, the Elmer Matte
sons. The American Legion Auxil
iary held its birthday party Sat
urday night, March 30, in the
Legion-Grange hall. Cards fol
lowed a potluck dinner at 7
p.m.
Mrs. Jessie Scott drove to John
Day March 28, taking little
Dianne Hinton over to see her
folks, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Hin
ton. Mr. Hinton is a patient in
the Clinic Hospital.
Gary Martin of Prineville vis
ited recently with his grand
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Martin.
Mrs. Doris Vinson and Mrs.
Thelma Williams took care of
the Boyer Store, while the Boyers
were in Salem recently.
lfeilii'f ;
pill Hill ill!
life
"
m
U
Live Better. ..Electrically!
Mr. and Mrs. Ansil Martin and
son Henry and Miss Arvella
Hunt of Prineville were week
end visitors with their folks, Mr.
and Mrs. Ernie Johnson and Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Martin. Gary,
son of the Ansil Martin's, return
ed home with them.
Maynard Hamilton received
word from his niece, Dorothy
Merrell of Boise, Ida., last Mon
day afternoon that his sister,
Evelyn Banta, was to undergo
surgery last Wednesday. Mr. and
Mrs. Verne Wiese took him to
John Day to take the bus to
Boise to be with the family.
Miss Margaret Martin and her
aunt with whom she lives in the
valley while going to college
were here to visit the Henry
Martins recently.
Mrs. Mildred Cowden of Port
land spent Palm Sunday here
with her four grandchildren and
their mother, Mrs. Francis Nol
and. Mr. and Mrs. Ansil Martin and
two sons, Gary and Henry, and
Miss Arvela Hunt all of Prine-
ill
Page 4 Thurs April 11, 1963
GAZETTE-TIMES
HEPPNER, OREGON
ville, spent three days here visit
ing. Mr. and Mrs. Roger Howell of
Portland arrived Friday for a
visit with his uncle and aunt,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Howell.
Verne McCarty drove to Hepp
ner Friday on business.
Maynard Hamilton went to
Boise, Ida. last Monday even
ing to be with his sister and
family Wednesday mor n i n g
when she went into surgery. He
returned Thursday evening.
Mrs. Jessie Scott and her
mother, Mrs. Elmer Matteson,
drove to Burns last Wednesday
morning where they met Mrs.
L. J. Matteson and brought back
the two grandchildren, Martha
and Ralph, to care for them
while their father is in the hos
pital In Cederville, Calif.
Mrs. Stella McCarty and
daughter, Elaine Reynolds, drove
to John Day Monday on business.
V5i
1 ?