The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-02-04
Minnesota Employees Compensa-
tion Commission Ready to
Submit Report.
THEIR WORK EVIDENCES
MOST THOROUGH sTUDG
Risk of Industry Must Be Reck
oned in Making Compensa-
tion for Injuries.

ST. PAUL, Feb. e.-The Minnesota
employees compensation commission,
appointed by Governor John A. john
SON under authority of the last legis-
lature, is ready to present Its report
to the legislature. The report by
William F.. McEwen and Hugh Y.
Mercer, recommended a code provid-
ing a system Of compulsory compen-
sation with permissible insurance.
This changes the present system Of
compensation for injuries to a work
man from that of negligence or fault
of the employer to that Of risk of
the industry.
Amounts of Compensation.
The amounts of compensation pro-
vided for are:
During first two weeks after injury.
not to exced 500 for medical and hos
pitaf expenses.
Funeral expenses not exceeding
800
In case Of death, where there are
no dependents. only the medical, hos
pital and funeral expenses are al
lowed. Where there are wholly de-
pendent persons, payment Of so per
cent of the wage between the death
and the end of five years after the
occurrence of the injury but in no
case to amount to more than $4,000.
in case Of partial dependents, a pro-
portion of the benefits provided for
those wholly dependent Is allowed
In case of total disability, the COM
pensation shall be so per cent of the
first $4,000 of the annual wage dur
ing such disability, but in no case to
continue longer than five years from
the injury.
In case of partial disa bility. the
workman shall receive so per cent Of
the necessary decrease on the first
$4,000 Of his annual wage during the
continuance Of such decrease. but not
longer than five years. in time from
the injury.
Whether the disa bility be partial or
total. if the body be manned or dis
figured. the compensation shall be de-
termined as nearly as may be as fol-
lows: Loss Of two members. 40 per
cent of the first $4,000 Of the yearly
wage during so much Of the five
year period AS the workman remains
alive; loss Of one member, Is per
cent OF the first $4,000 of the annual
wage during 80 much Of the five
year period as the workman remains
alive; II the body be otherwise
manned or disfgured not Sufficiently
to come within either of the above
descriptions. then such percentage Of
the first $4,000 of the annual wage
during the continuance of the injury.
not exceeding the five-year period or
the life of the workman. as would
bear net proportion to the per-
centages under the other headings;
additional compensation for disability
with Disagreement.
The amounts payable periodically
may be computed to one or more
lump sum payments by the board Of
arbitration, with the consent Of the
employer and workman or his depend
ents. Settlement can also be made by
annuity or property under similar
conditions.
PROVISION is made for CARRYING out
the law, including the creation of a.
BOARD OF arbitration for each county
IN the state, consisting of three men,
'pers' appointed by the district court
for such counties. 1t Is also. provided
that an employer who is responsible
for COMPENSATION as provided in this
code may insure the risk in any man
ner then authorized by law. subject
to certain conditions
Other Countries Action,
The commission details at length
what other countries have done in
regard to compensation for injured
employees, and then discusses ub.,
substantially all OF the states. as wei,
as the Federal government, have
done to amend the common law NV
changing some of the more objection
able elements In the more hazardous
employments, and the steps taken bv
the United States Steel corporation.
international Harvester Co., there
are but two general theories abroad:
First, that Of Germany, will. it's mo-
dltlcat1ons, providing in effect for
compulsory insurance.: second, the
theory emoodying absolute compensa-
I, t'on' some OF the countries allowing
INSURANCE. from constitutional
standpoint, the commission does not
1eel there is possibility of state in
surance In this state even If it were
thought to be the better plan.
Entertaining this view, we must
auopt, and majority prefer to adopt.
.ne other thepry. We do not believe
II the elective system because peo-
PIE VIII not elect to do such things.
< Is too cumbersome-it IS more
dangerous-less scientific, and more
costly Assuming that we start with
= system of compulsory compensation.
lne fisk must be an insurable one in
some form. What should be it's
form? 1t Is evident that compulsory
insurance would be fraught with manv