Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-09
IN
THECANALz0NE
COST $4,000
[Dy Latest NALL

Inc UnlteQ states mas PAID out III
compensation for accidents to en-
ployes of the United States in the
canal zone $4,000.
A recent report issued by the de-
partment of labor says:
The operations OF the law of May
80, 1908, providing compensation for
accidents to certain employees of the
federal government, form the subject
of Bulletin No. 1856 just published by
the bureau of labor statistics of the
United States department Of labor.
The report covers the period from
August l, 1908, when the law went
into effect, to June 80, 1913, or prac-
tically the first years of it's exist
ence. This law was the pioneer gen.
eral accident compensation law IN
this country, but since its enactment
"a states have made provision for
compensation in some form, all OF
them, however, on a more liberal
basis. q.
AS enacted the law covered ,arti-
sans and laborers in manufacturing
establishment, arsenals, and navy
yards, river and harbor and fortifica-
ton work, and hazardous employment
in the reclamation service and under
the isthmian canal commission. Lat
er 1t was. extended to include all
isthmian canal commission employees
and persons engaged in hazardous
work in the bureau of mines, the
lighthouse service, and the forestry
service. It is estimated that $4,000
persons are covered by the provisions
of the law, somewhat less than one
fourth of the civilian employees of
the federal government. The act is
administered by the secretary of lab
or except as it affects employees OF
the isthmian canal commission, for;
whom an act of March 4, 1911, pro-
vided that the law should be admin
istered by the chairman of that COM
mission. . =. -...-
e"The law allows compensation on
ly for accidents sustained in the,
course of employment without negli-
gence or misconduct, causing disabil-
ity exceeding Is days or resulting in
death. Compensation is on the basis
OF, full wages, bat payment is limited
to one year even in cases OF death
and total permanent disability.
q saThe total number OF claims filed
during the first five years of the law
was 14,g63, of which 14.046 were al.
lowed, OIL disallowed, and 6 were still
under consideration at the end OF
that period. OF the cases allowed 437
were for fatal accidents. The total
compensation paid, for all accidents
during the five years amounted TO
over 1900 900. or this more than
S732,000 was paid to 6.315 employees,
of the isthmian canal commission,
'sIn. the fiscal year 1928 the aver
age compensation reported for $500.
nonfatal and Sc fatal cases was $106.96
and $661.12, respectively. OF the nom
fatal cases 996 were isthmian canal
commission employees. VINO are large
ly unskilled and are exposed to great
hazard, and 1924 were employees of
other departments, the two groups re-
ceiving an average of $93.64 and
$112.66 respectively. OF the fatal cases
IL were isthmian canal and IS other
employees, the compensation averag.
ing $410.77 and $722.31. respectively.
The failure to recognize permanent
partial disability on a different basis
from disability from which there is
complete recovery results in very in,
adequate compensation in many cases.
Thus, fractures of an arm or leg led
to compensation payment Of less than
$25, the loss of an eye between $50
and $50, and in q case OF the loss OF
a right arm the injured workman re.
ceiyed less than $50, while in three
cases Of the loss of both legs, occurr-
ing during the third year, the aver
age compensation was $377.40.,
1.-THE small amounts of compensa-'
tion under this act, when compared
with compensation under the various
state workmen's compensation laws,
are due to the fact that under the
federal law compensation payments
limited to usual wages must cease
when the injured employe Is able to
resume work, and in any case can
not continue beyond IL months. I'm
der the more recently enacted state
laws compensation, usually on the
basis OF one-haf or two-thirds the
average wages. is paid in case OF
temporary disability during disability,
or in case of death or permanent dis
ability for q period extending to six
years, and in several states to eight