Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-07-01
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY LAW.
New Law Becomes Effective Today
and Employers of Labor Should
Familiarize Themselves With
the Law.

Every employer Of labor in the
state of Iowa should familiarize him
self with the conditions imposed up
on him by the new employers liabil-
ity law which becomes effective July
1. Following is brief summary of
it's leading features. Employers of
labor would do well to get complete
copy of the new legislation.
The new law fixes the compensa-
tion to be paid employees that sus-
tain injury or death in the line of
duty. Both employer and employee
have the right to decide whether or
not they will come under the COM
pensa lion feature of the new act, or
leave il to the courts to adjudicate
the differences that may arise be-
tween these parties.
1t is conclusiveiy presumed that
both the employer and employee are
under the law unless they take afiir-
NATIVE action to show their contrary
compensation features of the law,
it is the exclusive remedy and pre-
cudes actions in court for damages,
as in the past. But it is clear that
when an employer decides not to pay
compensation, his usual common law
defenscs are abrcgated and negli-
gence on his part is presumed in ev-
cry case.
Those engaged in agricultural pur-
suits and household or domestic work
are not Included under the new law,
hut al other employers of labor, in
ciudilg the state, county and other
divisions OF government, are under
the new COMPENSATION act.
The intent of the law apparently is
to protect employees from loss Of
time sustained becaIse OF personal
injuries while OH duty. and at the
same time protect the employer
against excessive verdicts for dam
ages as IL the past. ..,.
When an employer ard an EN-
nloyee come under the provisions Of
this act, and em-,oyee is disabled, it
first becomes the duty Of the employ
Ter to pay surgical medical hospital
fees and supplies up to the limit OF
$i00. For the first two weeks OF dis
ability the employee receives no COM
pe-sa.ion aside from the above
items. but on the fifteenth day, II
J disability continues more than the
! first two weeks, the employer is obli
gated to ray the employee half wages
but not TO exceed SO week and a
| minimum Of IS, unless the wage Is
less than SIS week. and then full
wages. These payments are to con-
tinue for four hundred weeks if the
employee dies as a result of personal
/ injuries, the employer must pay an
amount equal to half wages for three
hundred weeks and In addition there
to funeral or burial benefit of S100.
| Specific sums are provided for GER
tain injuries to the limbs or eyes.
If any employer decides to carry
his own insurance, or. in other
words, wishes to stay without the
provision Of the law, he must file a
notice to that effect in writing with
| the industrial commissioner and post
a copy thereof in his place of bust.
J ness. Ii he fails to take this action
the law presumes he has accepted
| the terms of the law and is subject
to its provisions. If an employee de-
clines to accept the provisions Of this
law, he must serve written notice to
that effect on his employer and file
a copy with the Industrial commits
sioner.
In the event the employer does
not elect to be governed by the law
the following defenses under the
common law are abrogated: (D as
sumed risk, (2) fellow service, CD
contrihutory negligence. except will
fnii negligence or drunkenness.
Within thirty days from the first
of July every employer subject to
this act ms. insure hts liability in
some reputable company or associa.
tion that will guarantee to the EN-.
I.,nyee the benefits that accrue under
the new law. But he may elect to
carry his own insurance, and in that
event he must file with the industrial
commissioner financial statement
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