The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-03
Judge Perry Says Compensation Msnoer For It's Impossible 70 Compensate For Loss of Bill
 s Designed To Protect Bereaved Dependents.

know it. the framers of the Worknen's Compensation act put "one over. on them when they got them to vote for the bill. Even Judge John H. Perry of Southport, a member of the Judiciary committee which reported this bill ia vorably, did not know that. this was so until last night when Hon. B. T. Buckingham commissioner under the law for the Bridgeport district, showed him a decision from Attorney General John H. Light to this effect.
 The new workmen's compensation law was ably discussed at length by Judge Buckingham, W. G. Cowles of Hartford, vice president of the Tray elers' Insurance Go. Of Hartford, and Judge Perry at a dinner of the Bridge port Business Mems association ip the StratteId last night. George B. Gal lup, chairman of the pubic opinion and city planning committee of the Boston Chamber or Commerce, was another speaker, but he devoted most of his remarks to city planning.
 That the law applies to every con- tract of labor entered into after ), -a- uary 1, was not generally understood until Samuel E. Vincent, former pres ident of the State Business Mems as- sociation, asked Judge Perry why the law had been made to apply to those employing five or more persons
 Judge Perry then explained that the 1aTIn6rS, WH1O are d1WdyS III A4SJOA4IJ in the House of Representatives, have persistently opposed all laws for work mems compensation that would affect them.
 As there are few farmers who em- ploy more than five persons the law was framed so they would not oppose it.
 At this point Judge Buckingham in terrupted to say that the farmer mem bers of the legislature had been fooled if they believed they were not liable under the act. He then read Attor- new General Lights decision showing that the act applies to every contract of labor entered into after January l. Judge Perry said he was highly pleas ed if this was so beca use that was the kind of law he wanted. He said however, that neither he nor any oth- CT member of the legislature who voted for the bill understood that it would work that way.
 'sThe object of the law" said Judge Perry ''is not to compensate, for how can such a beggarly sum as it pro- vides compensate the man who Is totally incapacitated from further la bor by injuries received in the ser vice of another? How can it com pensate the family of a man killed suddenly while at his daily labor The primary object of the law is to pro vide a means of support for the in jured man and his family that shall be understood and regulated by law without compelling him or his family to suffer the vexafious delays in court which the present statutes permit
 MT. Cow1esswas the first speaker to explain the workings of the act and the liability of employees under it.
 eff some Sunday morning. he said, you send a boy for cigars to the drug store around the corner and he gets LN@- you are liable under the act. In the same manner you are liable for injury which your maid receives in your ser vice although you may employ but the one. The chore man may hold you liable and if you are a bachelor and your only regular emp1oye Is your 1aundress, she too may hold you liable for injury which she receives in your service"
 The law requires that employers must insure against liability under this act or else furnish the comnis- sioners with proof of the liability to pay compensation to employees injured in their service. MT. Cow1es advised against insurance in mutual compa- nies which the law permits to be formed to meet it's requirements.
 He said that the experts of his and other stock insurance companies were now working on a table of rates under the act ana CndC the IdOl0 "O04O OS ready about December 15. He said it was a difficult task to establish table of rates. In Germany, he said, where the law has been in operation for 25 years, there is no correct table to guide the Connecticut experts. There the risks have gone up 10, 12 and 5 times during the period of the operation of the law.
 MT. CowIes' talk was mainly an ex- planation similar to that given by Judge Buckingham and aimed princi- pally to show the employers how they were liable and why they should in sure in stock insurance companies to talk, well delivered and punctuated with many witticisrns and funny sUor- ies
 Judge Buckingham answered a number of questions concerning the working of the law after he had fn- ished his speech. The speech follows:
 The passage of the Workmen's Com pensation act at the last session of the legislature was in answer to a popular demand for legislation that would es- tabliSh the relation between the em- ployer and employe on a, definite, clear ly understood basis in case of acci- dent. It was considered and wisely too, that this would be of benefit to the employer as well the employed. It would avoid lengthy and costly Hti- gation and give speedy relief to those who were dependent on the injured person for their support. It would place the employer in the position of knowing what his legal liability would be ins case of accident and he could almost tell in dollars and cents what compensation he would have to pay when the accident occurred. On the other hand the injured person would not have to enter into a specu1a ton with some one in order to obtain what | is due him and those dependent on | him. but the law assures prompt pay ment with very little delay or Htiga- | tion.
 The Compensation Act consists of | Part A, B and c. Part A modif1es the present law governing employers l