The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26

Cases come up then ono after the
other. The Rhinewalt case, which de-
Ponds on whether a painter was a con-
tractor or u journeyman hired by the
day, was set for Wednesday. There
| is the case OF the italian on the East
Side. unmarried. whose father and
mother claim compensation on the
ground that they are dependent
| deputy commissioner Is investigating
and at the proper time the parents will
have an opportunity TO show how
| much they are dependent.
\ member OF a big firm comes in
with Interrogation points sticking out
| all over him. He wants to know
whether. II he takes on man suffering
with hernia, for instance. and that be-
comes strangulated while he is at work.
| his firm Is liable for the injury. He
| says that the firm has several loco
motive engineers who are thus ar
| nlctcd and they are willing to sign all
kinds OF releases. The commission tells
| him that there Is no doubt that the
| evidence OF a physical examination on
! entering employment would be re-
| ceired but It will not make a ruling
until n case Is before II.
| There is also the question Of ono
]
ment II he loses his only eye Is the
company liable for total disability?
The same question Is asked in the case
Of ono armed man. who loses that
arm The inquirers want to know
right off. but tho commission in no case
Will decide abstract questions.
I'VE will decide every case "a II
comes before u.s." Is the answer. I'VE
will not make any general rulings"
Daniel A. Golden, chief Of the bureau
of claims. which is tho firing line Of the
commission, arises for a brief report.
Up to Thursday night the figures
showed that 1900 men and women
workers In the State had been hurt
since July I. There were forty-seven
deaths. There are $4,000 injuries by
this time and perhaps fifty deaths.
or the 1860 notices OF injury which
the employees had made and the 1880
reports which the employers had made
there were then on the record 1000
claims for compensation, on the ground
that the injury would last moro than
fourteen days. which Ia the maximum
of exemption for the employer. There
would be 1850 more claims on the H.
600. The number OF those injured who
are incapacitated two weeks or longer
is estimated at about one-third.
There were As death claims outstand-
ing and unsettled and there would be
300 cases on the calendar for Monday.
There are other things arising just
then and the commission goes into ex-
ecutive session, but afterward when
the members can talk informally a
clear insight Is gained of Just what
kind OF work the commission has to do.
The Workmen's Compensation Com
mission Is judicial body az well as an
administrative body 1t not only passes
upon the claims according to the law,
but II administers the State insurance
fund as well as the fund due TO all those
who have been injured. All claims
must be paid through II no matter how
the employer may be insured and 1t can
not permit any adjustment of a claim
between employer and employee. It's
findings OF fact are to DO considered
final, but its law can be reviewed by the
Appellate Division Of tho Third Depart
ment
SO 900 q year and tho Commissioner
each $500. There are tan deputy Cum.
missionerB and their ofYioss are In off
| LoToilt Ol6tIlCtS Ok tno btnNo. ~
about $50 employees at heahQusroera
Compensation for injury o. Aeati
under tho aot Is extended only to thos,
who arc employed in forty-two groups
of labor, characterized as Hazardous
by tho act itself. There arc something
more than 1900 separate employment
comprehended In the groups.
The commission IL vested with En-
power and duty TO determine, for tn
purpose Of carrying tho provisions O
the act into effect, and for tho purpos
OF the State insurance. which employ
ments are included under each seneri
name or group. There have been no do
cisions yet, but II is known that tn
commission 10 proceeding along cor
tain defined lines in the matter Of Stat
insurance.
For instance, II knows that oertai
willy insurance men are soliciting poll
cies which cover compensation fror
househoiders. restaurant men, hotel me
for all classes, little storekeepers, offic
men and the like. No ono can sto
these men except the insurers them
selves. This much IL made plain.
Tho law specifically exempts all do
nestle servants. which is taken TO mea
all persons employed about a dwellin
house in n domestic capacity.
The opinion Is fairly well establishe
that all persons employed In an ofilc
building except those working about en-
gnes, boilers and dynamos do not com
under the act. This applies to EN-
ployees OF tenants as we'll as employee
of owners. 1t does not exempt clerk
and bookeepers who are employed at
plant the work OF which comes undo
the act. A company may have its rlAr
in the suburbs and its office on Broad
way. All employed at the plant in r
matter what capacity are under II
law: all in the Broadway office are e,