Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-11-21
l;l|m AIl0N IA
GREAT SuCCES IS
STATES TAKING Up IDEA
& Undsr Fsdsrsl Plan, money e Given
g Once When Most Needed
III Delays Are
s3ss Eliminated.

n Charles Earl. solicitor
:sf the department OF commerce and
lAboss has lust submitted to Secretary
1 lSn4el Of that department. compila-
stlon ok his opinions dealing with the
govsrnmsnt workmens CO.., p s,am n
oranted tor injuries to artisans or
tnborerD employed by the United
HtateS This Is the pioneer among
compensation acts In this country.
1 Since IL enactment rs states have
passed lawK OF similar character, and
the number Id likely to be increased
during the coming sessions OF state
The money dement's paid under this
i acl between August /, 1908. when 1t
became effective, and December l. 1911.
i aYaregated 3704, s14.s0 paid to injured
5uftes and 3112,870.02 paid to surviving
dependents On account OF fatal in
3urieS. Since December, 1911. addt-
) fional benefits amounting to nearly
100000 have been paid. During the
flrat year after the passage ut the act
~ sos claims were submitted. Of which
$50 were allowed. During the second
wear 1924 claims were submitted and
s:...409 allowed.
he present statute applies only to
sastisnns or laborers employed In GER
sin specided branches Of the public
srvIce. or in certain hazardous occu-
ti0ns under the government. Any
4 y rksnan covered by the act who is
3ured IN the course of his employment
4 entitled to received for one year
tapreaftey, unless sooner able to re-
sslilne work. the same pgy as IL he con-
tinuAd TO be employed. except where
i he injury was due to his own neglt-
~ nee or Il misconduct. II the injury
81 suits IN death during the year the
~ widow or children or dependent
sarent.
MI. Earl emphasizes that feature Of
the act which permits OF the establish
gfnent OF a simple and direct mode of
procedure whereby the technicalities
provided can be speedily given. and
the further feature wkareby the gov
ernment 10 forbidden to exempt itself
from liability by any contract. agree
mont. rule or regulation. In this con-
nection he says:
DatiOn at time when the bread win
ner q stricken and money is most
needed, without forcing the claimant
10 pursue an elaborate, expensive and
sd5iatory process OF proof. Is one Of the
etTtkine benelits Of the act. Being in
1t nature remedial statute. 1t IL
rightly usceptihle of liberal inter-
benSnts attended. Such has been the
tnferpt4t NATION regularly applied by the
sAecretaty OF commerce and labor. with
ont. ct course. disregarling any OF the
sJinita lions Of the statute or extending
sJt beyond Its term.
n speaking further OF the nature
and benefits Of the act. the solicitor
states that IL marks distinct step In.
advance and substitutes an enliEht-
Aned modern view for certain obso-
lete doctrines OF the common law.
since nc only gives remedy
where none existed before, but It
valves tho right " the government
70 exemption from liability and dis
pensee with the necessity OF appeals
70 cougrezs An Ind vidual cases. The
solicitor notes that more than 1900
eCcld tents were reporter under the act
dilfing tle l1rst three years Of its OPP
egNtl0ti. whereas only about 5000
svore illed, due to the limited
ecppA az thu law and strongly urges
elilA ~ indicaf Hon OF the need OF
1xtepdinG the benehts Of the act by
gupplA ont ~ tegisla tlnn Such iegis-
lntt09s fNcts ms been recommended
aecretar5 of commerce and
T. md mel olses designed to en- =
|arte Ar the act are now
peadtn1 Ia com