Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-12-23

Labor Statistics, Washington.)
If proof were needed of the rapii
growth Of the idea of compensation O
workmenI from injuries received in the
course of employment as substitute
FOR the old liability acts, it would be
found in Bulletin ON. 1876, by the Blu
reau of Labor Statistics of the United
States Department of Labor. The
Bulletin presents the legislation fol
the years 1914 and 1915, together with
amendments to number of earlier
laws, which in some cases are so ex
tensive as to necessitate the reprint
ing Of the entire law. This Bulletin
is in egect supplement to Bulletin
No. 126, issued two years ago as q
complete compilation up to that date
Of existing legislation in this field.
The legislation of the year 1914 In
Guided three States: Kentucky, Louis
lana and Maryland. One Of these
laws, that of Kentucky, was declared
unconstitutional before it came into
operation. That of Maryland super
seeded an earlier statute reported as
unavoidable. The ne wlaws of 1915
cover 8 states: Colorado, Indiana,
Maine, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsyl-
vania, Vermont and Wyoming, besides
the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii.
The legislation of 1914 included also
a Presidential order providing a COM
pensation system for employees Of
the Panama Canal and the. Panama
Railroad, while that Of the current
year includes similar order extend
ing the Federal Compensation Act Of
1908 to workmen engaged on or about
the Government railway in Alaska.
With the legislation of these two
years, 81 States and the Territories
Of Alaska and Hawaii now have COM
pensation laws. A Federal statute
covers also about one-fourth of the
civilian employees of the United
States. All of thi slegislation has
been enacted since 1908, and practi-
cally all Of the existing legislation in
the States since 1910.
OF the new laws of 1914 and 1915,
one, that of Wyoming, must be class
ed as compulsory insurance law,
while those of Maryland and Okla
homa are compulsory compensation
laws. In other States, eight in num-
Der. the law permits the employer to
cleo to reject the compensation act
In case he rejects it, however, he is
deprived of the customary defenses
under the liability laws.
Som of the newer laws have GER
tain features which are of special in
terest and worthy Of mention. The
Oklahoma statute, for example, ap-
plies only to cases Of nonfatal acct
dents, while in Wyoming all awards,
whether for death or disability, are in
the form Of lump sum payments arbi-
trarily lxed by the statute without re-
gard to the earning capacity Of the
injured person. The Alaska statute
also provides for lump sum payments
except for Temporarily disability.
Legislation elsewhere has very gen.
orally provided for periodical pay
ments graduated according to wage
loss, and this method is favored by
practically all authorities.
OF the new laws of 191b and 1915,
the Wyoming act is the least liberal,
the compensation for death being
limited to- funeral expenses of $50 and
maximum death benefit of $4,000.
In comparison with this, the Colorado
statute provides for a maximum Of
$4,000, while the maximum Of the
Alaska statute is $1,000. In cases of
temporary disability the Colorado law
Is more illiberal than any other, as
it provides for no compensation for
disabilities not extending beyond
three weeks. In the statutes Of other
States, the waiting time has usually
been fixed at one or two weeks, no
State except Colorado fixing longer
period.
In the legislation Of 1914 and 1915.
special boards or commissions for
administration continue to be prefer.
red, the laws of Alaska and Wyoming
being the only ones enacted during
1916 which do not have this provision.
In Maine. Maryland, Oklahoma and
Vermont the administrative authori.
ties are given no powers other than
those relating to the administration Of
the cofppensation acts. In Hawaii,
county boards with functions restrict