The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-23
EIGHT MORE STATES LEGISLATE FOR W0RKMEN'S COMPENSATION;
 ALASKA ALSO ADOPTS MEASURE

New York, June 22.-To the list of tvv veraty-tvToz states in which work
 mems compensation laws were all
 ready in effect, eight more states and the territory of Alaska have this
 year been added by the action of their Legislatures during sesslons which have just come to a close This growth of the movement toward safeguarding the welfare of the la borer and his dependents is revealed in the summary of this> years leg1s- lative activities. which has been com piled by the Associated. Press. The summary also shows progress in the
 abolishment of child labor and in the direction of limiting the working hours of minors.
 The additional states to adopt
 workrnen's compensation are Wyom- ing, Montana, Oklahoma, Colorado,
 Maine, Indiana, Vermont and Penn syIvanfa Favorable action toward
 the enaction of such a measure was also taken by the legislature of Utah, which created a commission to in vestigate the question and' report a bill for the consideration of the next legisIature. In one state which con- sidered the matter, New Mexico. a proposed workmen's compensation law passed the house but was defeat ed in the Senate. In Idaho, the Dill was vetoed by the governor. Several
 other states revised their former laws
 in order to insure more efficient
 operation.
 r.. Somewhat different standards as to the way in which compensation should be awarded and the law ad- rninistered are shown in the measures
 enacted this year, but this lack of uniformity is also a feature of vari- ous laws previously passed in other hstates. For instance, under the new
 Colorado statute injured workrnen will receive 50 per cent. of their
 wages during incapacity, though not to exceed S8 a week. In case of to- tai permanent disability, the compen- safion is payable through life. When death results from the accident, the i workers family is to receive similar
 amount for six years with a maximum of $2,50O. In case of loss of eyes,
 similar. payments are to be made for a specified period, varying from a few weeks to four years, dependent upon the nature of the injury.
 Employers are required to insure payment either in 8 state insurance
 fund to be created or a mutual or stock insurance company. Admins tratfon is placed in the hands of an industrial commission of three mem
 bers who shall adjust disputes and
 with authority to make awards if ern- pIoyers or insurance companies neg 1 feet to make payments promptly. Court proceedings are thereby practi- ca1ly eliminated
 The Maine law, however, awards
 hesr injured workmen payment by the employer of not more than $10 a week in case of total disability with
 a maximum of $3,ooo. Heirs in case i of death receive the same and the scale of payments for those partly
 disabled ranges from $5 to $1O a
 week.
 Pennsylvania provided for the pay
 ment of fifty per cent of wages. but
 not more than $10 or less than $5, with a, maximum total of 4,000. The
 act is elective and takes away from | the employers the common law de-
 lenses, but the people will vote in
 November on a constitutional amend
 ment permitting the legislature to
 make it compulsory. The act creates
 a state insurance fund, but employers
 are permitted to protect themselves in
 any other form of insurance or car