Denver labor bulletin., 1915-12-25
PUzzLER PUT UP TO
STATE COMMISSION
New Phase Of Compensation
Act Is Raised
Definition Of Accident Within Mean
ing Of Law Causes Commissioners to
Add Wrinkles Of Care to Brows

1nOse VINO tnlnk the tnree members OF
the State Industrial Commission have a
sinecure are invited to visit their Of
fices in the statehouse and see them
wrestling with the many perplexities
that come up most every day. This
week the commission has been trying to
solve the question of What is an acci-
dentr
This Is question, apparently simple
enough, which is puzzling the State In
dustrial Commission and on which de-
pends the outcome OF large percentage
of the cases under the worimen's COM
pensatiOn law. The law is entitled, in
part, "an act providing for compensation
for accidental injury" yet nowhere are
the limits set as to what shall be con-
sidered an accident.
The dictionary definition of an aeci-
dent Is anything occurring unexpect-
edly or without known or assignable
cause This helps the situation little,
the members of the commission declare.
Questions Vexing.
II waitress has broken arches from
standing on her feet too long; if a
kitchen girl gets blood poison from
using too much sal soda in the dish
water; if a tailor's helper loses the use
of his hands for a long time thru in
fection gained while removing paint
from clothing; If worker in a sugar
factory IS ineapacitated with boils-are
these things accidents under the mean
ing of the lawi
Examples of each of the cases cited
have come before the commission and
must b. settled within a few DAYS Al
tho there are many pros and cons, com
missioners elsewhere are inclined to in
terpret the act broadly to cover any
injury not intentionally self-inflicted or
Intentionally inflicted by another"
English Law Cited.
The latter is the inclusive law OBJ
tanning in England. The Wisconsin
law. on which Colorado's law is largely
based. has gone so far as to award com
pensati0n to a workman who contracted
typhoid fever from drinking the water
furnished on the premises by his en-
ployer.
Another question which l. vexins the
members Of the Industrial Commission.
which Il not covered by the law. but
which will have to be settled in the
near future ms result of claims already
made. u that of extra territorial juris-
diction-
New Dilemma Raised
This simply means that if man
working for Colorado employer is in
jured IN the course of his labors outside
the state, can he claim compensation
| under the state lawf
\ further dilemma has been uncovered
thru the case of man thrown from
his wagon while returning home from his
work for the city.
Should he be paid compensation for
the injury received after he had quit
for the day. but was covering the neces.
sary route to his residence! II so
should he receive an amount proportional
to what he and his team earned together
or only to what he is estimated to have
earned thru his own personal work,
City Refuses Liability.
A few days ago the city commission
| ers of Denver were asked to pay CON-
pensation to young woman who con
traeted smallpox at the City hospital
| while being treated for pneumonia. May
or Sharpley. who is also a doctor. ruled
that inasmuch as the City hospital treats
patients free of charge and is not con.
dncted for profit. the demand for com.
pensation WAS not well founded. Thi-
case is now before the State Industrial
Commission TO add TO its long list OF
troublesome problems.