The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-13
COMPENSATION
ACT IS A MODEL
How The Federal Governments
Plan Works.
The INJURED GOT S7O4,0t4
Relatives of Those Killed Received
S112,S79-SoIioitor Earl Gives Fig
ures From Aug. I, 1908, to Dec. I,
1e11-$3oo,ooo Moro Since.

S112,879-Solioitor Earl Gives Fiq-
ures From Aug. I, 1908, to Dec. /,
1e11-$3oo,ooo Moro Since.
Charles Earl, solicitor of the depart
ment of commerce and labor, has sub
mitted to Secretary Nagel OF that de-
partment compilation of his opinions
dealing with the government work
mems compensation act, under which
compensation Is granted for injuries to
artisans or laborers employed by the
United States. This is the pioneer
among compensation acts in this coun-
try. Since its enactment sixteen states
have passed laws of a similar charac-
ter, and the number is likely to be In
creased during the coming sessions of
state legislatures.
The money benefits paid under this
act between Aug. |, 1908, when it be-
came effective. and Dec. /, 1911, aggre-
gated $T04,s14.GO paid to injured per-
sons on account of nonfatal injuries
and S112,S79.02 paid to surviving de-
pendents on account OF fatal injuries.
Since December, 1911, additional bene-
fits amounting to nearly 100000 have
been paid. During the first year after
the passage Of the act 1905 claims
were submitted. OF which 1859 were
allowed. During the second year 2,624
claims were submitted and 2,499 al
lowed
How Statute Applies.
The present statute applies only to
artisans or laborers employed in GER
tain specified branches of the public
service or in certain hazardous occu-
padons under the government. Any
workman covered by the act who Is in
jured in the course Of his employment
is entitled to receive for one year there
after, unless sooner able to resume
work, the same pay as if he continued
to be employed, except where the in
jury was due to his own negligence or
misconduct. If the injury results in
death during the year the compensa-
ton allowed is payable to the widow
or children or dependent parent.
Mr. Earl emphasizes that feature OF
the act which permits of the establish
ment Of a simple and direct mode OF
procedure, whereby the technicalities
and delays are avoided and the relief
provided can speedily be given, and the
further feature whereby the govern
ment is forbidden to exempt itself
from liability by any contract agree
ment, rule or regulation.
Solicitors Statement.
In this connection he says:
THE prompt payment OF Compensa-
tion at a time when the breadwinner
is stricken and money is most needed,
without forcing the claimant to pur-
sue an elaborate, expensive and diia-
tory process Of proof, is one OF the
striking benefits of the act. Being il
its nature a remedial statute, 1t is
rightly susceptible of a liberal inter
pretatiOn, as contrasted with a strict
Interpretation, in order to bring home
the benefits intended. Such has been
the Interpretation regularly applied by
the secretary Of commerce and labor
without, of course, disregarding any
Of the limitations of the statute or ex-
tending 1t beyond its term"
In speaking further Of the nature
anu DeueulS OF Ine act tne SOllCltOr
states that 1t marks a distinct step in
advance and substitutes an enlightened
modern view for certain obsolete doc
trines OF the common law since it not
only gives a remedy where none ex-
listed before, but it valves the right OF !
the government to exemption from liza |
| |bility and dispenses with the necessity
of appeals to congress in individual |,
cases.
The solicitor notes that more than
1900 accidents were reported under |
the act during the first three years OF
I its operation, whereas only about 5000 /.
claims were filed, due to the limited
scope Of the law, and strongly urges
this as an indication OF the need Of ex.
tending the benefits Of the act by sup
Elementary legislation. Such legisla-
4 ton, in fact, has been recommended .
! by the secretary of commerce and la.
Dor, and measures designed to enlarge |
the scope Of the act are now pending
I in congress.
n