The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-01-23
AID FOR WORKERS
Provisions of New York's Com
pensation Law.
Employers HELD LIABLE.

Two thirds of Average Weekly Wages
Shall Be Paid Injured Employees
DURING Continuance of Total Oisahil-
ity-Commission to Execute Law.
The workmen's compensation law
PASSED recently by the New York legls-
laturc does not go into effect as TO the
payment Of the compensation required
iImtii the list IF next July.
The principle u the law is that all
employers in the groups OF "haZartouS
cn.pioymentS" specified in the law shall
be liable to pay compensation for IN
Jury 10 their employees or i'll case OF
death compensation to those depend
ent Oh SUCH employees. says the New
York Times.
The law fixes The rates OF conpenSa-
ton for various injuries resulting i'll
various degrees of disability or III
death. The general basis Of such COM
pensaIion is two-thirds Of the average
rate Of wages paid at the time Of III
jury, and each specified disability Is to
be compensated by the payment OF this
average weekly sum for defined num-
Der OF weeks. The weekly amount
cannot go below So or above SO except
in case OF the loss of ali arm. foot, leg
or eye. when the maximum is $50. In
case Of permanent partial disability
the aggregate Of weekly payments IS
limited to $500.
In case OF death the employer is 10
pay funeral expenses not exceeding
500 and IS 10 pay to dependents ot
the deceased workmen as specified al
amount not more than tWo-thlrdS or
the weekly wages. This ceases. III
case Of widow. with remarriaGe,
when, however. TWO years CompenSa-
tion may be paid in lump. In case Of
children the payment ceases when they
reach the age Of eighteen. The week
lr wage. the unit Of calculation OF the
COMPENSATION required, rs We Interpret
the law. is the average amount agreed
upon 1t the tine the Injury is incurred
without reference 70 the continuity or
employment. The only exception 70
the employers liability is when "thc
Injury is occaSioned by the willful IN
tention OF the Injured employee 10
bring about the injury or death Of him
self or OF another OF where tie injury
results solely from the intoxicatinn OF
the injured employee while on duty"
Elaborate provision is made to insure
the payment Of the compensation ti1eh
by the law -Four methods are defined.
The employer may satisfy the autharl-
ties that lie is responsible and eau then
insure himself. Or he may join in 4
mutual insurance association with
other employers TO be approved by the
authorities. or lie may insure in cas-
ualty company authorized to do bust
ness in this state, or he may insure in
the state fund. In the last named case
lie is released from al liability. In
thc others he remains liable if the i'll,
surciS. or carriers of Insurance, de
fault.
10 eNcrute the law and carry ont its
extensive and varied provisions the
state Wurhulen'S compensation COM
mission is created. 1t consists Of five
members appointed by the governor
for five Yeats each, one member goin"
out each wear. Ii has great powers. 1t
collects and pays out all compensation.
Ii decides primarily on the facts Of all
claiIuS. On questions Of law 4 limited
appeal lies to the appellate division OF
the supreme court. 1t has power TO i'll
spect and Investigate. 1t is required
10 study the actual operations Of en-
ployerS. ana it may change the amount
OF insurance according 10 its judgment
as to the liability incurred in such Op
erations. It has charge OF the receipts
and payments in the state fund.
though the moneys and securities are
placed in the hands Of the state treas
urcr. 1t may, upon hearings, chang"
the groups defined in the law and
transfer cmploymentS from one TO an
other In its hearings and inveStiga.
lions the technical rules Of legal evi-
dcuce are not required. 1t has the
power to issue SubpoenaS. and it can
punish for contempt. 1t can remove
any subordinate ut discretion. Its own
members can be removed only by the
governor after public hearing in per-
sou or by counsel.