United labor bulletin., 1914-10-17
COMPENSATION IS
LAW In "a STATES
Rocky Mountain Region Still
Hold Back Against Action
Many Progressive States Are Expected
to Leeislate in Favor Of Workmen's
Compensation During Year 1915

Exactly one-half, or "a, OF the As
states have enacted workmen's compen-
sation laws during the past four years.
is the announcement OF the American
Association for Labor Legislation in a
new bulletin which. by the aid of a
colored map. graphically depicts this
revolutionary advance. Two big areas,
the solid South, broken only by Ken
lucky, Louisiana and Texas, and a
Rocky Mountain strip extending east
ward over Colorado and the Dakotas,
are still backward and untouched by the
forward sweeping wave Of compensa-
tion. But more strikingly prominent
still are the remaining unprogressive
states of Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylva-
mia, Delaware, Vermont and Maine, all
OF which, however, are working toward
compensation legislation in 1915.
1T is practically certain that within
the near future numerous bills will be
drafted to strengthen existing laws and
to extend the compensation system over
the remaining "a states. The time, there
fore. seems opportune for an appraisal
of results. for the adoption OF new
ideals" saws the association in sending
out its standards for Workmen's Com
pensation Laws Features especially
emphasized among these standards are
that the scale of compensation for the
injured should be based on thirds
wages, with adequate medical attend
ance, and the inclusion OF all employees
except farm labor, domestic service lex
cept in connection with hotels and res
taurantsl and casual employment not
carried on for the profit OF the employ
er. Security for the payment OF COM
pensation awards. and an accident board
e enforce the law, are regarded as es-
Nltial.
The states having legislative commits
sions now preparing bills are Indiana,
Missouri, Pennsylvania and Vermont. In
Indiana the commission itself has been
declared unconstitutional, owing to a
technical defect in the title of the ere
ating resolution and the members
have been seriously hampered by lack
OF funds.
Pennsylvania. with an exceptionally
liberal appropriation for study, has rec
commended one of the most inadequate
bills vet discussed. The Missouri COM
mission has submitted n comparatively
liberal measure. marred, however, by a
few anti-social backward steps, such,
for example, as the first explicit ex-
clusion in American legislation of occu-
pstional diseases.
Vermont adopted constitutional
amendment in April, 1918, permitting a
compulsory law which is now being
| drafted In November this year Wyo'
, ming will vote upon constitutional
amendment making possible state in
suranee fund. An initiated measure
roughly drawn comes before the people
\ OF Montana on November 3, while in
/ Nebraska the compensation law of 1913
| through the efforts of personal injury
attorneys, working under the guise OF
a 'Workingmen's Protective League,
has been held up by a referendum peti'
tion and must be voted upon by the
people in November. Three states, Col
orado. Delaware and North Dakota
have had legislative eomissions without
| legislative results. Prominent among the
remaining states where compensation
bills are now being considered art
Maine and Alabama. The coming year
according to trustworthy accounts
promises to be fruitful one in work
mems compensation legislation.