The Washington herald., 1913-02-16
MILLIONS PAID INJURED WORKEN UNDER NEW COMPENSATION LAW

Congress, but the money that they car
ried was . gratuity. The person injured
had no recognized rights and the gov
ernment being incapable of doing wrong.
as the old theory maintained, could not
be sued in Q court Of law. Persons in
private employment, as on railroads and
in manufactories. could sue, but have
already shown the dimculties they met in
recovering damages for the losses they
sustained. The Federal government by
the enactment Of the compensation law
has become q model for the States. The
day Is coming, dare say, when work.
men generally, or those engaged in
dangerous pursuits at any rate. will be
protected against loss Of wages by in
jury.
incurred by reason of occupational dis
eases. Men working in lead become
poisoned. It is necessary that men
should work with lead. Such workers.
therefore, should be assured that they
will not be deprived Of their earnings
when stricken with disease common
to their employment. Acids and chemi-
Gals bring on oocrpational maladies. The
cost Of a keg Of white lead must ulti-
mately include its proportional share Of
tho compensation given the man suffer-
ing from lead poisoning. II Is a just
charge and will be subtracted from the
profits of the manufacturer or added to
the price asked the consumer"
what Some States Vow Pay.
"You say the laws OF the States are
patterned after the act passed by Con-
gressT
Yes in principle. In some States, not
ably Washington and Nevada, compen-
sation Is compulsory; in others II Is op-
tional with employers. who are free to
choose the law or to be sued for personal
injuries in the courts as heretofore. The
new law Of Massachusetts gives the de-
pendents of a workman meeting death
at his employment, 50 per cent of his wag-
es for 800 weeks. The minimum weekly
payment Is a: the maximum. SO. I'LL
noIs. in the event Of the death of a work
man, allows four years earnings. but the
sum must be no less than 8, 800 and Is
not to exceed Sa500. The compensation
in Kansas Is the earnings of three years.
but the payments must amount TO H,20O,
with g. 800 as a maximum. California also
pays three years earnings. the mimi
mum Of the total payments being $1,000
and the maximum 5000.
Total disability In Massachusetts, is
met by the payment Of half wages for a
period Of 500 weeks: in Kansas. half
wages for no more than ten years: IN
Illinois. weekly payments up TO $500 in
the aggregate and in California. not more
than three years wages in weekly sums
ranging between $s.H and SECS For par
tial disability. Massachusetts, allows half
wages for not more than 800 weeks; Kan
sas allows from % to so per cent of the
weekly earnings up to ten years: Illinois
allows half wages for no more than eight
years; California allows S. per cent of
the usual wages for a period not exceed
ing three years. Ohio adds, where death
occurs. $50 for funeral expenses to the
payments of sums varying from $3.50 to
S,400 Men who are permanently dis
abled receive from s to $12 a week so
long as they live. Such are some Of the
laws of our States. refer to them in
detail because they show the thought Of
the age. Other great States have similar
laws. All States, no doubt. will adopt the
principle of compensation to men engaged
in dangerous pursuits"
Will Stop Ambulance Chasing.
What effect will compensation laws
have on the legal profession?" asked
Il do not care to venture very far into
such a matter. Litigation. obviously,
will be lessened. Some lawyers are en-
gagged almost exclusively in what is
known as personal injury cases. They
take such business under an agreement
that they are to have a certain part
Of all money collected. Often 1t is the
larger part. Compensation laws estab-
lish a standard OF payments. An in
jured man knows what he will get He