The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-31
They Did Not at First Know
 It's Wide Application
Many Now Securing Exemp- tion or Insurance Town Settles a Highway Dam age Suit for $50O- Out of Town Teachers Visit Red ding Model School.
Especial to The Farmer )

others in this town having hired help paid little heed to the employers Ha-
 bility act until within the last few days because of a general impression
 that the law applied only to those em- ploying five or more persons. The act goes into effect with the New ear and while liability exemption may be ob tained in cases where the number of employees is less than five, certain formaIties must be compiled with in
 order to gain such exemption. Other wise it's provisions apply, making the
 employer liable for the wages of the
 employe who is injured while in his
 service, this compensation continuing
 during the period of disability. To secure exemption the employer having
 in his service less than five persons
 must formally notify the commission
 CT of his district and also give notice
 of such action to his employees. The
 commissioner for this district is E. T.
 Buckingham of Bridgeport and noti-
 fcation blanks covering all require
 ments of the act may be obtained from Flown Clerk Sanford. Those whose
 notices have not been filed by Jan. 1
 will be subject to the general provis-
 ions of the law for at least one month
 as the earliest subsequent notification
 does not become effective until Feb. 1.
 The towns largest employer of la
 boF is of course the Gilbert & Ben E
 many individuals having five or more
 in their service for at least occasional
 periods. Most of these are protecting
 themselves against a possible heavy
 Graft on their financial resources by
 taking out liability insurance. Among
 these are D. s. Sanford, Sanford Os-
 born and Albert Williams.
 A highway damage claim against
 the town in which damages of S2,00O
 were asked was compromised by the
 selectmen last Saturday through their
 agreement to pay $500 in full settle
 ment. The claim was made on behalf
 of the estate of Mrs. stephen Barnurn,
 who was fatally injured several
 months ago as a. consequence of her tean. going eff the bridge near the
 mill of J. l.. Blackman in West Red ding She lived but a few hours after the accident. The bridge was who'll unprotected by a railing and a thick growth of weeds which fringed it's sides added to the danger by making the danger less apparent. As there l was no doubt regarding the towns | legal liability for Mrs. Barnum's death 1 the selectmen thought it would be bet ter to settle for $500 rather than take | the chances of a court award
 Mrs. Barnun1 left a will by which all | her property, consisting mostly of a l farm valued at about $3,0OO, was be- queathed to her unmarried daughter, AlELI6s WHO nd0 dWayS IlV0O at nome. There were several other children and | they engaged counsel and contested the admission of the will to probate on the ground of undue influence, one ! of the contestants being Mrs. E. M. | Sanford After hearing Judge Gun ninghan, of the Danbury probate dis trict, admitted the will to probate. The contesting heirs gave notice of appeal but allow the time for actually mak- ing it to e1apse without taking fur ther action. Consequently the entire estate, augmented by the $500 secured from the town, will go to Miss Kittie Barnum.
 the engag cement of James Aldrich, an instructor of the Sanford school, and Miss Esther Tarbell, who was former ly in charge of the schools kinder garten department and has this win ter been teaching at Germantown, Pa.
 MT. Aldrich comes from Vermont and has been connected with the Sanford school for about three years. He went to Germantown at the beginning of the holiday vacation and returned last week accompanied by Miss Tar bell when it first became known that of Ida M. Tarbeu, the author, with whom she has lived much of the time in the past few years The engaged couple do not expect to marry for 9 year two. Since the Sanford school was established eight years ago three other of it's teachers have enter ed matrimony following engagements into during the service there.
 The Christmas entertainment of the Center Methodist church Sunday school was held last Friday evening, about 70 attending. The children gave 3 dramatic sketch appropriate to the season and there was a distribution of candies and other presents. On1 evening the Episcopal church Sunday school had a Christmas tree at the rectory with attendant features which made the occasion a. very en- joyab1e one. The Sunday school of he Center Congregational church gathered at the church on Monday evening and enjoyed a program which a Christmas tree, music, re- citation and refreshments.
 Simon Loveley and James Ferry, z who went to Edmonton in Western ' Canada early last spring to work at f heir trade as carpenters, arrived home ast week. James Reynolds, their i companion, remained in Edmonton . where he has a position manager T ,f a, large grocery. Love1ey will start | on his return trip next week, while Ferry is not to go back until spring. C All consider that Western Canada is r great country to get living in and g develop with. o
 Since the Center school was official V y named as a model school, teachers I rom several neigh boring towns have f ,isited it to be come acquainted with ts superior methods. Those wishing 1 o avail themselves of the privilege Ire allowed one day each week for hat purpose without loss of pay
 The teamsters from West Cornwall md others of the out of town force | | vorking with the steam sawnil1 en- f aged on the George s. Banks job are f O be housed at Miss Runyon's cottage t t Pine Tree Corner. \
 Among the younger set who spent F Christmas at their homes here were V Homer Smith from Amherst, Harold Q tanfOrd from Schenectadv and Mjss f