The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-01-15
ITS ENACTMENT JUSTIFIED.
Entails Little Added Burden Upon In
dustry - Expense of Administration
No Greater Than the Sum Formerly
Paid For Liability insurance.


No Greater Than the Sum Formerly
Paid For Liability insurance.
The American Association For Labor
Legislation, which seeks to promote
uniformity of labor laws in the United
States and to encourage the study of
labor conditions with view to urging
desirable legislation, recently held it's
eighth annual convention at Philadel-
phia.
John Mitchell of the New York state
workmen's compensation commission
gave brief statement OF the success
fui operation OF the New York law, the
most liberal as well as one Of the new
est in the country. The state work
mems compensation commission of
New York, said Mr.. Mitchell. lis
handling compensatable claims under
the new law OF that state at the rate |
OF 10000 per annum and first notices |
of injury at the rate of over 100000 |
per annum. The commission is now
able TO keep up with its business, |
which is creditable in view of the fact |
that the compulsory law became effec-
tive on given day in July. and the
full onslaught of the states business
was felt by the commission. Naturally
there still remain some crudit1es to be
worked out and few exasperating
delays. but the progress of organiza-
ton indicates that within a few weeks
everything will be running smoothly.
st may be said that the law gives
general satisfaction. with the possible
exception Of the matter of insurance
rates, which experience is proving to
have been too high. But this is the
common experience of every state
adopting such laws. Lack of compiled
statistics compels the rate makers to
put themselves on the safe side, and
rate to be safely high must be too
high. However, In the administration
of the state insurance fund the com
mission has been able to declare a gen
eral average of 20 per cent reduction
In rates and in addition to that to re-
fund Is per cent dividend upon busi-
ness of the first semiannnal period.
'in its schedule of benefits New York
offers the most generous measure of
compensation in the entire country.
and 1t can be safely said that 1t has
the best balanced schedule. That the
schedule of 66 2-3 per cent is not too
high is best evidenced by the fact that.
according to the present payments the
law, when ii has settled to a firm basis
OF administration. will entail little or
no added burden npon the industries
of the state. The money hitherto paid
out by employers for liability insur-
ance, for time off and for medical serv-
ices will more than accomplish the full
measure of compensation.
Some embarrassment Of administra-
ton results from doubtful coverage
under the law, it being sometimes diff
ficult to determine whether or not an
employee has his rights under the com.
mon law or under the compensation
law.
"In the expense of administration.
which is good index, New York's
early experiences are favorable. Based
upon the total premium income the ex-
pense ratio is smaller than per cent,
and based upon the aggregate payment
of compensation 1t Is about 10 per cent.
This Is in fine contrast with the very
expensive system heretofore prevail
ing.
1T can be said for the New York
statute that 1t is q practicable one
and that the end of the first year Of
administration viii amply justify its
enactment Employers will be more
and more satisfied as the rates are ad-
justed to actual cost. Employees will
be more and more satisfied as speed
is developed In the handling of claims.
Both of these requirements will easily
be made by the development of expe-
rience and the lapse OF few months. .
The American Association For Labor
Legislation was organized In 1906 for
the purpose of improving industrial
conditions and for obtaining labor laws
in the interest of the whole commu
nifty. The membership includes prom
inent public officials, economists, physl
clans, lawyers. wage earners and man
ufacturers, thus having access to the
thoughts of nearly every class of men
The society's method OF obtaining re
given condition. to insist on the en-
forcement of existing laws. TO draf
necessary new measures and to organ
ize campaigns to obtain the enactmen
of desirable laws. Unnecessary dupli
cation OF work is carefully avoided ant
the cooperation OF other agencies Il
constantly sought.
The branch In this country is on
OF the fifteen sections In all parts o
the world The international bod,
was founded in 1900 and maintain
headquarters in a government building
in Basel. Switzerland, where ii trans
lates and publishes monthly the ney
labor laws of all the countries. Th
international Office brings about uni
form labor laws by international treaI
les. One treaty already signed by -four
teen countries prohibits the night wor
OF women and another prohibits tn
use of poisonous phosphorus IN maxim
matches.
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