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SENATE BILL 905 (BOYNTON-1913)

CHAPTER 176, STATUTES OF 1913, SB 905

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The Workmen's Compensation, Insurance, and Safety Act of 1913 was a substantive revision of the much simpler Worker's Compensation Act adopted in 1911.  (See Exhibits #4 and #7)  Senate Bill 905 was the measure which essentially repealed and replaced the earlier 1911 Worker's Compensation Law.  (See Exhibits #1a and #7) 

Senator A. E. Boynton authored the bill which was heard in the Labor and Capital Committees of each House as well as the fiscal committees, the Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means.  (See Exhibit #2)  Upon receiving approval by Governor Hiram W. Johnson, Senate Bill 905 was enacted into law as Chapter 176 of the Statutes of 1913.  (See Exhibits #1 and #2)

The 1913 repeal of the 1911 Act was seen as an abrogation of that earlier law, done for the purpose of replacing that “crude and tentative” measure “to give place to a more comprehensive law” and whose purpose in 1911 “was mainly formative and educational.”  (See Exhibit #6, page 1)  A statement of the legislative history, from the Progressive political view, is included.  (See Exhibit #7, pages 346 through 349)  The 1913 Act was apparently quite controversial as the Legislature made worker's compensation compulsory instead of elective and established a State source of insurance, thereby infringing on insurance provided by private companies.  (See Exhibit #6, page 347)  The bill was apparently drafted by the Industrial Accident Board.  (See Exhibit #8, page 6)