The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 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
Eliminated.

Observation-Disclosures Earl. solicitor
Of the department of and
labor, has just submitted to Secretary
Nagel. of that department, a compila-
ton of his opinions dealing with the
government Work1nen'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 country.
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 /, 1908. when 1t
became effective, and December /, 1911.
aggregated $704,S14.60 paid to injured
persons on account of nonfatal in
juries and $112,S70.02 paid to surviving
dependents on account Of fatal in
Juries. Since December, 1911, addi-
ion benefits amounting to nearly
100000 ave been paid. During the
hrst year after the passage of the act
l,S0o claims were submitted, of which
1883 We're allowed. During the second
year 2,624 claims were submitted and
24s9 allowed.
The present statute applies only to
artisans or laborers employed in GER
tain specified branches of the public
service, or in certain hazardous occu-
patiolis under the government. Any
workman covered by the act who Is
ipJured in the course of his employment
- entitled to received for one year
thercafter. unless sooner able to re-
snrne work. the same pay as If he con-
sl1ued TO be employed, except where
ne injury was due TO his own negli-
= nee or misconduct. If the injury
{ suits in death during the year, the
compensation allowed is payable to
me widow or children or dependent
t2ccnt.
MIR. Earl emphasizes that feature of
the act which permits of the establish
ment of q simple n direct mode of
procedure whereby the technicalities
and delays are avoided and the relief
provided can be speedily given, and
the further feature whereby the gov
ernInent Is Forbidden to exempt itself
from liability by any contract, agree
ment, rule or regulation. In this con-
nection he says:
Ihe prompt payment of compen-
sation at q 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
strlking benefits of the act. Being in
Its nature a remedial statute. It is
rightly susceptible of a liberal inter- |
probation in order to bring home the
oSHelttS iAteHueu. SUCH has been The
interpretation regularly applied by the /
secretary of and labor, with |
out; Of course. disregarding any OF the |
limitations of the statute or extending
1t beyond its term
In speaking further of the nature
benefits of the act, the solicitor
states that II marks a distinct step In
q and substitutes an enight-
ened modern view for certain obso-
lete doctrines OF the common law.
since 1t no only gives a remedy
where none existed before, but it
valves the right of the government
to exemption from liability and dis
penses with the necessity of appeals
10 in Individual cases. The
solicitor notes that more than 1900
were reported under the act
during the first three years of it's op-
Grafton. whereas only about 5000
claims We're filed. due to the limited
scope of the law. and strongly urges
this as an indication OF the need of
extending the benefits OF the act by
supplementary legislation. Such legis-
lation, In fact. has been recommended
by the secretary OF and
labor, and measures designed to en-
the scope of the act are now
pending In congress.