The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-11-21
COMPENSATION LAW
is GREAT SUCCESS
Report Of Earl Shows That
over Million Dollars Has
Been Paid to Injured.
STATES TAKING UP IDEA
Under Federal Plan, Money Is Given
at Once When Most Needed
All Delays Are
100 Eliminated.

washington--Charies Earl. solicitor
Of the department OF commerce n
labor. has lust submitted to Secretary
NaRel. OF that department, a compila-
ton OF his opinions dealing with the
government workmen's compensation
act. Under which compensation Is
granted for injuries to artisans or
Iaborers employed by the United
states This is the pioneer among
compensation acts in this
Since Its enactment 16 states have
passed laws of a similar character, and
the number Is likely to be increased
during the coming sessions OF state
legislatures.
The money benefits paid under this
act between August l, 1908, when "
became effective, and December 4. 1911.
persons on account Of nonfatal In
jurfes and $112,870.02 paid TO surviving
dependents on account OF fatal In
juries. Since December. 1911, addi-
tional dement's amounting to nearly
5000, 600 have been paid. During the
first year after the passage Of the act
1905 claims were submitted. OF which
1883 were allowed. During the second
year 1924 claims We're submitted and
2.499 allowed.
The present statute applies only to
artisans or laborers} employed In GER
tain speciied branches of the public
service. or in certain hazardous occu-
EatIons under the government. Any
WORKMAN covered by the act who Is
injured. III, the course of his employment
u entitled to received for one year
thereafter. unless sooner able to re-
sumo work. the same pay as IL he con-
tinued 20 be employed, except where
The Injury was due to his own negli-
r nee or misconduct IL the Injury
suits In death during the year, the
* compensation allowed is payable TO
toe widow or children or dependent
(arent. Nar%I.
Mi. Earl emphasizes that feature OF
the act which permits Of the establish
ment OF a simple and direct mode OF
procedure. whereby the ttechnicalities
and delays are avoided and the relief
provided can be speedily given, and
the further, feature whereby h gov
eminent Ks Forbidden to exempt itself
from liability by any contract, agree.
tnent, rule or regulation. In this con-
nection he Gays aEE E1n=1E "a ii @G.
'Thc prompt payment Of compen-
sation alta time when the bread win
ner is stricken and money is most
needed without, forcing the claimant
70 pursue an elaborate, expensive and
dilatory process of proof, is one OF the
striking benefits Of the act. Being in
it's nature a remedial statute, IL is
rightly susceptible OF a liberal inter-
probation. I'm order TO bring home the
benefits intended. Such has been the
Interpretation regularly applied by the
secretary Of commerce and labor. with
OH, OF course, disregarding any Of the
limitations Of the statute or extending
Il beynnd its term" 2
In speaking further Of the nature
INK benefits of the act. the solicitor
states that II marks a distinct step in
advance and substitutes an enlight-
ened modern view for certain obso-
lete doctrines of the common law,
since II no only gives a remedy
where lone existed before, but Ii
valves the right OF the government
to exemption from liability and dis
penses 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 it's OPP
GRAFTON, 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
extending the Dement'S Of the act by
supplementary legislation. Such legis-
lation. In fact; has been recommended
by the secretary OF commerce and
labor, and measures designed to en-
large the scope OF the act are now
pending in congress-.