The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-04
DELAYS WERE
UNAVOIDABLE
In .aa11 TLEMEHT or CLAIMS
PENSATroN FUND.
snt wal Not ocuh In Future. a. Force
Has Been Reorg anired, In
spsetor Alisn Says.


1t i true mat there IA. been some
otl"y IN the payment ofclaims agaiust
the workmen's COMPENSATION fIind in
several instances. hut this will moi oc-
.ur again. as the fore. has been reor-
sanl<ed and - now able to handle the
business more eNpeditiously." said 4 ..
Nenen ~ farkersburg last night. Mr.
Allen Il Inspector Of claims against fre
fund and Is under the state pubiir SEW
zee commission. lie fs spending a few
SS IN tnls city investigating num-
nsr or claims and h Interesting several
OF the large employers IN this section
OF the state in the new act.
referring TO an article published On
an evening paper 60 the effect that many
sohpiants atc being made hy employ -
because Of fhe delays incurred in hav-
hS tneir cases taken up By the COM
Mr. Alien WEN a5,,, ,esS are ~ or injured
70 a considerable extent. This condl-
uon. Tie explained was caused by large
umbenrs Of claims coming into the
Was unprepared and was insufficient TO
handle them. lie added. however. that
force reorganizcd and hereafter ali
claims viii be looked after with dis
patch
Causes Explained
IN speaking OF the matter TO an In
teiiigencer reporter last night Mr.. Allen
The first claims were paid promptly.
70 among the number was Mrs. James
Cook OF First street. wheeling But
when the claims commenced 10 come IN
SO 80 rapidly. even AZ the rate OF at least
900 Der month. the Office force was in
sufficient at the time to handle them
ana 70 expedite the checks. Recently
80 80 1870 haS been increased ana reor-
canned Tor more rapid dispatch ct
the business. and the serious delays
which have occurred in the past will not
FeCnr IN the future.
Furthermore. the approximation made
ny the last Legislature for the EXPENSE
OF the public service commission was
o n = J. men al Il IL.
proportion OF the amount appropria tea
was used 70 buy furniture. supplies and
70 pay FOR blanks and printing These
blanks were placed In the hands OF all
employers In tie state. This expense
absorbed a large amount Of the appro-
priation. which made n necessary 10 eN-
ercise the most rigid economy in the
appointment OF necessary clerks in the
office 10 dispatch the business.
when the commission was organized
INC only available room FOR the first
sixty days OF its existence was the re-
ception room Of the governor. The third
noor OF the capitol was subsequently
renovated and the floors relaid. aud in
addition bare attic was converted into
n suite Of rooms Tor the employees to
work IN, and what Is called court
room where the hearings are held.
All supplies. flingcases. desks type
writers and necessary equipment FOR the
dispatch Of the business had To he pur-
chased. which consumed a large portion
or this appropriation. This permanent
expense viii not he necessary In subse-
Reports Also 20 Blame.
while the delays To- great extent
are true for the reasons herein stated.
these have been corrected, and hereafter
the employees will receive their checks
more promptly.
cause the reports sent in by the EN-
pluNer or by the employe or his depend
euts are Irregular or not correct. All
such cases have 10 be investigated bv
an Inspector and correct reports OBJ
tanned and filed with the commission.
II also sometimes occurs that relatives
claim that are the true dependents when
IN fact such relatives claim they are
the true dependents when I'm fact such
relatives have not been dependent upon
the deceased cmploNc for support. Cases
or This kind have to be Investigated in
order &" ascertain the true dependent
contributed to his or her support during
hts life time. a. section 80 Of the act
provides.
PERHAPS not more than ten per cen,
or tire claims are Investigated by the
inspectors. II the reports are hlled out
properly thcy are acted upon NJ once
by the commission. prov ided every thing
appears regular.
The employer is not required to in
Nsstigate the dependents. 20 ascertain
the validity Of the marriage. etc. Mr..
Allen said He added that in some in
stances inspectors have found two or
three persons claiming Co be dependents
90 tho deceased omploye I'm few
cases u was found that the man and
woman living together az man and wife
were i.ot married. In such instances
though the woman sought TO recover for
the death Of the man. she was unable To
do 80. as the legislature. anticipating
no such conduct. did not provide for
such cases.
Law is Popular.
Notw outstanding tn" Inconvenience
caused bN delay in settlement Of claim
iu the past. the act b. very popular
among the WORKING mon Of the state as
well as employers said Inspector Alier.
" b. proving great benefit To- all per-
sons concerned. and De- continually grow
ing iu popularity.