Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-12-29
ltion in the states since 1910.

leased as a compulsory insurance law, while those of Maryland and
 Oklahoma ara compulsory compensa- l;iCn laws. In the other states, eight
 il. number. the law permits the em-
 ployer to elect or reject the compen-
 s;tion act. In case he rejects it, ilowever, he is deprived of ths custS-
 Tary defenses under the liability .aws. @El
 Some of the new laws have certain l features which are of special interest
 and worthy of mention. The Okla boma statute, for example, applies only to cases of nonfatal accide1ts, while in wyoming all awards, whether fer death or disability, are ii the form of lump sum payments arbitrarily fixed by the statute with Gut regard to the earning capacity ol
 the injured person. The Alaska r,atute also provides for lump sum
 payments except for temporary dls-
 aLiliv. Legislation elsewhere has
 very generally provided for periodl-
 cal payments graduated according to
 wage less, and this method is favore!
 iv practically all authorities. ;Yr.l
 Of the new laws of 1914 and 1915, the Wyoming act is the least liberal,
 the compensation for death being
 Emitted to funeral expenses of $50 and a maximum death benefit of $20O0. IF comparison with this, the Colorado sra ute provides for a maximum of
 g. 300, while the maximum of the
 Alaska statute is $6,00o. In cases of temporary disability tho Colorado law
 $ more illiberal than any ether, as IL provides for no comps nsation for disabilities not extending beyond |lhree weeks. In the statutes of othe" |states. the waiting time has usually )been fixed at enc or two weeks, no state except Colorado fixing longer reriod.
 In the legislation of 1914 and 1915, |srecial boards of commissions for ad- |ministration continue to be preferred,
 uhe laws of Alaska and Wyoming
 being the only ones enacted during |1515 which dc not have this provision
 In Maine, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Vermont the administrative authori- |t'es are given no powers other than 1Eose relating to the administration lt the compensation acts. In Hawaii,
 county boards with functions restrict
 td to the compensation act are pro vlded for. In Louisiana the law is administered by the courts.
 The prevention of accidents, as
 we'll as compensation, is provided for ia number of the new laws. Thus, he industrial commission of Colo |roinistration of the compensation act,
 but also with the duty of factory and mine inspection, the enforceneMt of
 woman and child labor laws, and
 safety laws generally. Correspond irg provisions are feund also in the
 laws of Indiana and Montana.
 The Bulletin contains compara- tive analysis of existing workmen' $
 oompensat laws in the form of a large folding chart. Notwithstand- ;Eg the efforts which have been made l to bring about uniformity in compen- setion legislation, comparison of the laws of the 31 states which have lthus far enacted compensation laws
 shows the widest diversity in the methods and amounts of compensa 5'on payments and the scope of the various laws. Amending legislation ;; in general of a liberalizing char acter, either including new disabih tes, as cccupational diseases, or Increasing the disability allowances
 or introducing other details.
 Promise of future progress iii com pensati9n legislation is found in the
 provision for a commission ill Utah l for the purpose of drafting a con- rensation bill and ill the amendments
 tc the constitution of two CT three states. the purpose of which is to permit the enactment of more in-
 cusiNe and effective laws than is be- l l'eved possible under the presens
 isws of the states.
 l IL IS only g question of tune when
 Arkansas will enact workmen's
 compensation law, and such a time
 Is to be welcomed. With the statutes
 ot S1 states as a guide, the law
 makers of Arkansas should be en-
 aoled to frame a very satisfactory | l2W-one that will protect tho em.