The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-17

rel" fixing the amount to be paid in
damages not on the basis of the merit
of the claims. but according to the pol
itical influence of the Congressman or
Senator who introduced them.
One Notorious Case.
notorious case of this delay oc-
CURED recently in claim presented in
behalf of a Miss Alice Houghton,
Washington girl. About two years ago
Miss Houghton, who was an employe
in the Census Bureau had her hair
which she was working. Her scalp was
torn off. She was pretty young wom-
an and besides disfguring her for life
the accident caused injuries which
made her suffer for months. Skin graft
ing had to be resorted to in order TO
save her life.
A bill was introduced about two
years ago. shortly after the accident.
to give Miss Houghton 5000 dam
ages. The liability of the government
never was questioned, but despite a
great amount of publicity in the news
both branches of congress on the case
it was not until a few weeks ago that
& bill was passed giving Miss Hough-
ton $4,000 damages. The average
claim of this sort receives no publicity
whatever and doesn't stand one per
cent of the chances of final success
that Miss Houghton's did.
Secretary Wilson's bill not only
would provide a quick method OF re-
dress for government employees in
cases of inquiry, but would provide
compensation for them whenever they
may fall a victim to so called occuQa-
tional diseases.
An employees compensation commits
sion would, under its terms, be Great
ed with power TO settle all disputes in
cases of this kind between Uncle Sam
and his workers.
If a government employe be totally
disabled he would be paid 60 per cent
of his monthly compensation equal to
sixty five per cent of the difference
between his monthly pay and his
monthly wage-earning capacity after
the beginning of his partial disability
Ii a partial disability employe re,
fuse to work after suitable work has
been furnished he may not collect com
pensation while such refusal exists. II
he be found to be suffering from an
occupational disease he may be sus
pended by the commission and paid
60 per cent of his regular salary. The
monthly compensation for disability
of all employees shall not be more than
sos a month nor less than $32.50.
If death results from injury or from
an occupational disease within ST,
years after the injury or suspension
of work due to disease of this kind, il
provided that the United States shall
pay the following compensation:
| To the widow, if there be no child
SO per cent of the victims salary.
To the widower, if there be no child
thirty five per cent if wholly Deepen
dent
Ten per cent for each child up to q
certain limit.
To the children. if there be no wild
over, 70 per cent Tor one child and
ten per cent for each additional child
, The dependent parents Is per cent.
! To brothers, sisters, grandparents
and grandchildren, if dependent, q
per cent.
The compensation would be paid fol
period of eight years and various
other administrative provisions art
contained in the measure.
Three commissioners to constitute
| the compensation commission at al
annual salar yof $1,000 each are pro
vided for. The bill would apply to al
civilian employees of the government
except those employees on the Panama
Canal and the Panama railroad.