Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-12
Employers Liability and
Workn,en's Compensation Act
lBy Of The bar Copyright
Charles Kauf1nanl ,.s = n

Comment on Schedule 81 Compensation
From the schedule we see that for an
injury not cauEing death the highest
amount which any person can receive
IL $4,000 and for an injury causing
death the most compensation that can
be received by the dependents Of the
deceased Is $1,000. In these two cases
and partial disability compensation can
usually be determined at the time Of In
jury. But in cases OF temporary dis
ability this Is practically impossible.
Yet temporary disability may be COM
pensated for period Of 500 weeks or
Ave years and forty weeks.
II payment Is made In q lump sum,
which must be ordered by the Judge
| OF the district court. upon the appltcA-
ton Of one of the parties. interest
shall be calculated at per cent per
annum but this Is usually impossible In
cases of temporary disability.
When considering the high cost Of
living, II the employer was to blame for
the injury. if the machinery was de-
fective and other like questions, wheth-
er the compensation provided by the
act is equitable and just is an open
question and has caused many to ash
for whose benefit the employers ia
bility and workmen's compensation act
was passed.
Compensation Security.
There are three ways Of providing for
the accumulation Of funds necessary to
pay compensation to the injured en-
ploye. These are state tnsuf-
ance. merely requiring the employer "a
pay or to require the employer to ef-
feet policy OF insurance either in q
mutual organization fostered by the
state or In q company authorised to dc
business therein. Mutual and stock
company insurance are the general rule
in this state. The reason for requiring
insurance Is to guarantee protection
from insolvency and 50 as TO make GER
tain there will be sufficient funds to pay
the compensation provided by the
schedule.
An employer who elects to reject the
act is required to secure payment OF
compensation due or that may become
due to his workmen. subject to the APP
prevail OF the Iowa Industrial commits
sion.
Insurance Required.
The act provides that every employ
err subject to the provisions Of the act
shall insure his liability hereunder in
some corporation, association or organ
ization approved by the state depart
ment Of insurance and shall exhibit
on demand Of the state insurance de-
partment evidence OF his compliance
herewith.
When Insurance Need Not Be Taken
No insurance need be taken out when
the employer deposits with the insur-
ance department security satisfactory
to the insurance department and In
dustrial commissioner as will secure
the payment OF compensation provided
by the act and furnishes from time &c
time, when required 30 to do, addition
al proof OF solvency and financial abii-
ity to pay.
IndividuaIs and Corporations.
AS a matter Of practice II Is very
difficult to secure the privilege OF ex.
emption from carrying insurance and
even then trust funds are recommend
ed to cover reasonable risks. Under
the Michigan act, where the same pro.
vision is in force. less than per cent
Of the employers have been permitted
to carry their own risk The Iowa de-
partment. however, expresses the hope
that a much larger proportion OF IOWA
concerns will show themselves to be
entitled to exemption. Exemption does
not depend solely on the business
standing (and this Is far more strict
that the requirements for current com.
mercial credit) Of the applicant but
also whether the employer Is diligen'
in reducing risks and providing and
maintaining improved safety devices
factory sanitation and safeguardinl
employees in all approved methods
Therefore. Warren Garst, the Iowa In
! dustrial commissioner. states exemp'
ton may be denied those Of larger Nm
ancial strength when the liability hax-
| ard has not been reduced to the fui
extent.