The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-13
STAMFORD

 At the regular monthly meeting of the Mems club of the Congregational church last evening. Hon. E. T. Buck ingham. who is the new Workmen's < ef,omDeusation commissioner gave an interesting talk upon the Compensa- ton Law. MT Buckingham began his talk by saying that any lawyer who wanted publicity Or a free advertise uacnt should give his views on the new compensation law one way or the other and he would soon see his pie ture i'm the paper. The law is being widely discussed just at present but it is rather difficult to understand most parts Of it clearly and these points were explained by MT. Buck 1ngham-
 There are. he said, twenty-threes states that now come under the new law end in time all the states will be, 1atu it finally becomes a national law Conunecticut does not claim to have the best laws in regard to the. act, but it does claim that they are rood ones There are at present many differences Of opinion, but a trial will convince In the first place the law was passed for better relationship be- tween woriCinEman and employer. If ft does not bring tnos about, then it does not carry out its purpose. The law iE to prevent accidents Just now we hear a good deal about accidents buk they do not actually happen, how ever we get the impression that they do. and are led to believe that many accidents are occurring
 An accidents have to be reported whether they incapacitate the work men 1or one day or one year. but uIa-s@ -lems the workman is lncapacitated TOT mt least Is days he receives no com Densaffun outside of doctors and hos awlen1 bflhs. This is not generally un- ssrs.ood. If he is injured and kept firm work for more than IS days he receives not less than $5 and not more f1,an S1o for each week until he pe- comes well Compensation will not be eafd however. for more than Slz ~e.5rr or 5o2 weeks if the man is to- tally incapacitafed- Any person eu1- oIovfur less than five persons may, If he so desires. refuse to accept me act and after 90 days he becomes just the earne aa before the law existed Those refusing to accept before Jan list have also the same privileges If man docs refuse however. the three de- 9ences, called the common law ue- fences. are taken away rom him ana he cannot plead under these certain
 The law is not meant to be club over any ones head and will not be It is a serious affair, notwithstanding rhe. fact that many ridiculous cases come up. come of which MT. Buck Inzham mentioned The commissioner who acts for the county of Fairfield. adjusts all cases. and no eases come 1Ander the Jurisdiction of any one but hun The employer. employe and cnmmkssioner are the only ones who are connected with the cases and only when requested is a lawyer employed The commissioner also passes upon all doctors and hospital bills-as in the state of Massachusetts, outrage fees were charged. iA11 accidents must be reported within week to the com missioner and if not reported, there is a severe penalty to pay.
 Afr Buckingham explained several other more complicated points and then told of his work so far. He has visited several factories. studying con Gitions there and when necessary, or dering certain things to be done such as lights put in dark places ,e1eva- tors examined. machinery screened in etc When he finds a good idea he tells it if he can to other factories for them to pattern after Mr. Bucfzing- ham thinks that in time the law will work out properly and be a benedt to employer and empIoye as it was in tended. and he is going to do all in his power to make it SO It is not to create. but to prevent accidents and co far ft has done SO With common sense and a little law mixed in he is going to try to regulate all eases which may come before him, but he said 1t As very true that 1t is not as most people think. a bed of roses for the commissioners
 After the talk. which was greatly applauded. several asked questions which 1Fr- Buckingham explained One gentleman told how a foreigner cut his finger in machine and when his employer asked him how it happened, he replied. Like tfis,'' and put an other finger in the machine and cut it or
 Coffee and cake were served after The meeting which was enjoyed by the large number of men who were Present.
 Emil spahn Dies
 News of the death of Emil Spahn ~ ho was for years employed by Will liam Peck, will come as a complete surprise to most Of the townspeopIe- Emil. as he was generally known, did not appear for work on Sunday morn ing and upon going to the little hut which he built for himself near Peck's AIill pond. he -vas found dead. Heart trouble is given as the cause.
 Emil was a quaint old German char mccer of the town, well known by both young and old For years he worked on the ice wagon for MT Peck and made many friends among his GUS toners Of late he was not seen about town. but remained at his hut Two or three times his little home was destroyed by fire ana other bad 1Eck befeu him, but he never com plafned. but seemed to bear his 1nis- fortunes calmly. Arrangements for his funeral have not yet been made.
 TaIiy-Ho Club Dance
 Tonight the Tafly-ho club will meet at the home of Miss Nina. Aufrord on .Judson place Final arrangements haEe been made for their dance to be held in the Auditorium this Saturday evening. Invitations have been sent over two hundred people, including Chose of New Haven, Milford and Bridgeport The hall will be prettily decorated for the occasion and Wood hu1fs orchestra will furnish a pro gram of sixteen numbers The pat ronesses will be Mrs William B.