The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-05
ILLINOIS COMPENSATION LAW.

LII
Beginning with the present month
Illinois is under a workmen's com,
pensation law whose practical work
ings will be watched with general
interest. As rule employers in that
state are complying with its require
ments, although a constitutional test
will be arranged to determine some
of the fundamental propositions in
volyed.
There is imposed on all en-
ployers affected by the new law the
obligation to compensate injuries re
ceived by employees In the course OF
employment-rega of fault on
the part of the employer-in accord,
ance with fixed amounts of compensa,
ton, which include provision for the
payment Of
j (a) Medical, surgical and hospital
services and medicines.
Obj Half wages for disabling in.
juries after first week.
(c) Specified indemnity for perma.
nent Disagreement of hands or face.
If employers refuse to accept the
plan of fixed compensations for all
injuries" prescribed by the new law,
by filing notice with the state bureau
of labor statistics the rights of EN-.
ployes to collect damages by action
at law for injuries suffered on and
after May /, will be greatly strength
1aoa al Ia
lenses hitherto enjoyed by employers
respecting assumption of risk by an
empIoye, or injury being caused by
the act OF fellow servant are abol-
ished as defenses by the new law:
and even contributory negligence OF
the injured employe will no longer be
a defense, and may be considered by
a jury only in assessing the amount OF
damages.
The law applies to all employers of
labor, not simply the large corpora
tons If you are resident of Illinois
and are building house or barn or
other structures or repairing your
property, for example, and one of the
workmen is injured while on the job,
you are equally liable with the con-
tractor, and the injured workman may
secure lien upon your property for
the amount to which lie may be en-
titled under the law. It will be neces-
sary for you to see that the contract
or carries liability insurance.
Under the law Illinois employers OF
labor are required to provide broad
accident insurance benefits independ-
ent of the question of liability for
every injured workman On the other
hand. If they elect to act independent
ly OF the provisions of the law many
of their defenses, as indicated above,
are taken away from them. It will
be seen from this that the new law
presents perplexing problems to liza
bility insurance companies, agents
and brokers. The net result will be a
material increase in rates, because or
the great increase in the liability as
sumed. The companies are seeking
70 reduce the burden as much as pos
sible by reduction in the commits
sion and brokerage allowances, which
is made the easier by the great in
crease in the volume of business
which will follow.
il Is predicted generally that the
rates. though they may seem high in
comparison, eventually will be found
70 be Inadequate after few years OF
actual experience, and that further in
creases VIII be necessary. This was
the csse In Great Britain, where such
legislation was first tried. II is also
predicted that the growing tendency
toward Liability In the treatment Of