Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-11
DIR. DONoHUE'S OFFICE
 IN "SUlTABLE PLACE"
As Workmen's Compensation Commis- sioner-Act First Designated Wiili- mantle.

mantle.
 The newly appointed workmen's compensation commissioners have con- siderable time to get acquainted with
 the duties of their office before either their appointment takes effect or they can be called upon for actual duties
 in connection with the office. The ap
 pointments date from the first of Oc
 tober, but the commission is not called
 upon for any work until after the first
 of January.
 For this district for which pr. J. J.
 Donohue is the commissioner, it was
 originally provided in the act that the
 office of the commissioner should be
 maintained in Wil1imantic presum-
 ably for the reason of it's location as the geographical center for the district.
 But Dr. Donohue understands that an
 amendment was made so that the office
 can be located in a suitable place."
 In speaking of the matter recently,
 the new commissioner said he had
 not fully decided yet about his office
 arrangements and should not be in a,
 hurry to do so. but he felt that he
 would have a clerk and that the clerk
 would keep the office open at regular
 hours so that he himself would not
 be tied down too closely. The doctor
 indicated that he had not yet decided
 where the office would be, but he
 would naturally have strong lean
 ing towards placing it in Norwich. The workmen's compensation act has turned up joker, as some | investigators figure it. Men who em- ploy less than five workmen, who have supposed that under the provisions of l the act they were immune from it's workings will have an unpleasant awakening if they read the act care fully. As a matter Of fact, the em- ployer of less than five is bound by i the act unless he serves notice on each of his employees and upon the com rensatton commissioner, exactly as provided by the big employer that he will not be bound by it's decisions. The only difference between the big
 and the little employer they having, served notice that they will not be bound by the act, is that the big en- I pIoyer has his pressnt common law defenses-fellow servant rule, assump ton of risk and contributory negii- gence-taken away from him. while the small employer can still protect ! his own interests unGer these defenscs 1 as at present. It is confidently be- | lieved by all but the few who had the l framing of the bill in hand that the small employer, the man who has less ! than five Wolkmen is exempted from l its provisions. To exempt himself he
 must serve notice as provided in the i bill.
 i These peculiar features of the law were discovered before the bill was passed in the house on May 20, it is said, but public knowledge of them 1 was rigidly suppressed by the house i leaders, who feared that any attempt l at amendment would mean the death ! of the bill. J. H. Blaizeman of Strar- ford had an amendment prepared i which would exempt the small em- l ployers, which he tried to introduce at | the request of the State Grange, put l oAl1ld m 11a ar : amendment originated by the same i body, totally exempting farm labor.
 was also killed before any one knew i about it
 l The act which goes into effect Jan. 1 l. 1914. is divided into two parts A and B. Part A is divided into two 1 sections. of which the first abolisnes 1 the present common law defenscs, 1 that the injured employe was negli- gent. that the inquiry was caused by l the negligence of a fellow empIoye
 that the injured employe had assumed ! the risks of his employment Sectioil
 3 provides that these defenses shall l not be abolished for the employer 1 having less than five Workmen, or in suits for damages brought by casual 1 employees, or by outworkers, and any employer who has accepted the com i pensation act may use these defenses l if sued at law for damages.
 1 Inquiry around the state has brought i forth the fact that while the large fac l tory employers as a rule are preparing 1 to accept the act and take out insur :
 ance in some industrid! liability insur-
 ance company, few of the largest will certify to the secretary of state that l they have enough capital to pay any 1 damages that may be assessed against i them by the compensation commls sioner, and will not pay an insurance company to take the risk. On the other hand, it is predicted that the
 small employees and farmers, having | the opportunity of leaving things as they are will not accept the act, but i prefer TO be sued as at p1 esent. They, l however. must remember that written notice of this intention must be served 1 on both workmen and commissioner | at least thirty days before any accident l occurs in order for them to be inn mune from the workings of the act.