Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-30
NEW ACT EFFECTIVE
SociaIistic Measure Believed to
Be liberated
FOR ENGLISH W0RKINGMEM
Employers May Have to Pension All
Heirs.
EXPECTED TO BRING TROUBLE
Much Litigation Likely to Result.
Question Whether It Will Accom-
plish the Purpose.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, June 29.-The new workman 9
compensation act will come into force Mon
day, after which it will soon begin to make
its unwelcome influence felt in nearly every
home of the United Kingdom. 1t is one
measures. 1t was ill-considered and ill
drafted and may be relied on to prove a
fertile source of litigation.
Roughly speaking, every person employed
in manual labor. all domestic servants and
persons employed otherwise than in manual
labor, whose remuneration does not exceed
s., $50 year, come within the act. For all
accidents to these employers are liable.
The compensation for partial or total in
capacitation cannot exceed 50 a week Sub
ject to that limitation the basis of compen-
sation will be so per cent Of the average
weekly earnings. So long as an employee
is incapacitated the payment goes on,
though it may be renewed by the purchase
of an annuity equal to rs per cent Of the
annual value of the weekly payment. When
death results from an injury the maximum
compensation is fixed at $1,000 and the
minimum at $3.50 This goes to the de
endahts'-heirs would be a better term
who include the parents, grandparents,
husband wife, step-parents, children, STEP
children, brothers, sisters, half brothers
and half sisters
All these relations rank equally, even if
illegitimate. If an employe has dependents
the maximum compensation based on medi-
cal and funeral expenses is $50 But even
a table of affinity is of no use to an en-
ployer. He may be under the impression
that he is employing a man without rela-
tions at a liability in case of death of $50
grandmother. suddenly appears on the
scene, the liability is Immediately converted
into $500.
Advantage Doubtful.
A domestic servant who clumsily or spite
fully cuts his or her hand, or falls down.
stairs, receives compensation SO long as he
or she is incapacitated. 1t is seriously
doubted whether the bill will prove of real
benefit to the working classes. 1t will GER
tainly be disastrous to workers whom age
or partial infirmity renders unsafe for any
employment, though now such persons
often secure work which they are thor
oughly competent to perform by reason Of
the sympathy of employers. 1t is equally
certain to deter large numbers of poorer
people from putting honest work In the
way Of their still poorer neighbors. ESpe
cially will this be the case in thousands Of
household where one domestic servant is
employed and where boys and men are
occasionally, but regularly, employed.
One immediate result of the immnence Of
the operation of the new bill is the enor-
nous press of work at the insurance Offices
One large company which is new to the
business is issuing from 5000 to 1000 poll
cies day. Another has eight clerks en-
ployed merely in opening letters. In all the
companies extra clerks have been engaged
and men have been drafted from other de-
partments to the accident section. The Off
GERS report that while small holders, such
as individual housekeepers, are well alive
to their responsibilities, great banks, ship
ping and mercantile companies seem apa-
thetic in regard to the risks.