The Nome daily nugget., 1915-07-03

which has come about during the last of injured and the dependents of killed workmen.
 The old common law principles gov erning the relations of master and ser want have been virtually abandoned. Formerly, the injured workman could recover for loss through injury in the course of his employment only when the injury was found to be due to the negligence of his employer Since that time, laws have been enacted which provide for the compensating of in- jured workmen and of the dependents of those that have been killed. Ac- cording to these laws, the fact that a employment of itself gives the right to compensation.
 Twenty three states have enacted workmens compensation laws abolish ing the old commonl law remedy-ac- tion for damages in the courts. These suits made il well-nigh impossible in most jurisdictions for an injured em- ployee to be reimbursed in the event of his injury, or for his dependents to be compensated in the event of his death. Most of the states have simply esta ablished the compensation principle to take the place of the old employers liability laws ..
 Ohio has gone a step further than the other states-eXcepting Oregon and Washington. In addition to enacting what is probably the most liberal of compensation laws. 1t has established q state insurance fund. maintained by contributions from employers and ad- mInistered by officials of the state. Tn" cKl ense of administering the fund Is borne ly the state itself.
 Let us see briefly just what this law is and what it accomplishes. There are more than million workmcn in Ohios industries-in the mines, shops, factories and stores. These operatives are employed by no fewer than 2O.OOO employers. More than seven hundred kinds of employment are carried on in this compact industrial state. They range through all the degrees of ha2. ard or danger. from offices to blast fur Each year one out of every eight work men is injured making the enormous total of over 125.000 accidents annually a stupendous number, representing a loss of life greater than that which takes place on many field of battle IL is to make up for the losses thus arising that the compensation law was drafted. The Industrial Commission which now administers the law is pay ing over 2,000 claims each week.
 The system may well be described as simply accident and life insurance for every workman while on duty-an insurance of which the workman pays not a cent of money either by direct outlay or by having it taken out of his wages Under this new system. the employer pays in the long run fewer dollars and cents than under the old and both employer and employee are spared the costs of lawsuits
 The accident insurance provisions make it possible for the wage earner to receive two-thrds of his wages for each week of disablity-except the flrst-for period not exceeding six years. If the case is one of total dis- or both feet, or both eyes. or any tw5 bodily members, the award continues through life. This insurance covers all physicians, nurses, and hospitl ser vices and medicines up to 200: and n Is paid from the very moment of injury and to the doctor or hospital the injur- ed person chooses.
 There is a steady stream of checks flowing from the state insurance fund to compensate those who have been disabled in the great industrial battle of peace. This is as it should be: for the workman is worthy not only of his hire. but also of the recompense due him as the price of his blood. Here is boy in college. living on the money received for the loss of a hand in the course of his vacation employment; there widow. with several small children. receiving her $24 every fort night payday for six years A man with back broken from a fall of slate in the mines crippled for life. but neither abandoned nor starving. is sus- tained by the state insurance award. A blind man is saved from the poor house and enabled to live. at home, certain of his food and shelter through the remainder of his life white haired old couple are receiving. after an honest life of toll in the factory.