The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-02-06
woRkMEN's COMPENSATION
Bill Which Has Been Submitted to
the Legislature.

Montpelier, Feb 3.-The workmen'S
compensation bill is practically ready
for the revisers. The bill IS similar
to the uniform law, except that il
leaves out state insurance 1t is. prac
tically compulsory act and goes into
effect July next. All who do not
within so days announce their inten-
ton as to whether they win come un-
der the act are assumed to have come
under the act.
Those who do not elect to come un,
der the workmens compensation act
may have recourse to the common
law as at PRESENT, except that the
employer is deprived of his three de-
fenses: First, that the employe was
negligent; second, that an accident
occurring was caused. by the negli-
gence OF q iellow-seryant; and third,
that the injury came through a risk
which the employe had assumed. Ii
the employer elects TO come undef
the act, but any workman notifies the
compensation board in writing before
The accident that he does not elect
10 come under the act, present CON
ditions hold, and the employer still
retains his three defenses.
4 schedule OF benefits is arranged
in acco dance with the injuries sus-
tained This is a modest schedule
and does not impose too eXacting
burden upon the employers. The
maximum weekly benefit Is $40 and
the minimum is 50. Dependent wild
ows without dependent children re.
ceive a death benefit OF so per cent.
OF the regular wage, with one or two
dependent children 60 per cent with
three or moe dependent children G6
2-3 per cent. There is a waiting per
iod OF two weeks, as in an laws; and
for accident the workman receives
nothing but medical costs for the first
two weeks
An industrial accident board of
thee is in charge of enforcing the
act.
The law does not apply 10 farm
hands or house servants.
The proposed act in its present
form is the result Of several hearings
of employers and employees through
cut the State
Several prominent labor men were
in Lieut-Goy. Hale X. Darling's Office
on Tuesday night TO inspect the pro
posed law and practically all were in
favor of the measure. Another hear
ing OF employers and employees was
held today a few minor changes
were suggested
II is expected that the compensa.
ton act viii appreciably reduce the
amount Of court business. The the
ory of the act is that the employer
should pay for tho expenses OF acct
dents to his employees just as he
stands the expense OF accidents to his
and equipment, and this
additional cost is allowed for in fix
ing the price of the product A sche
dule of certain benefits is determined
upon so that the empoye suffering
injuries in an accident may know
just what indemnity he may receive
The waste. uncertainty and cost 81
litigation are removed, and the ON
ploye practically always receive.
more than he gets at law after law
yer's fees and costs are paid for The
employer shifts over the burden OF
paying the benefits for injuries to an
Insurance carrier.
The compensation bin consists of
6G sections. A digest OF 1t by sec
ticns follows:
Section I. Agreement to act re-
CURED before it applies except sec
tions two and three relating TO de-
fenses, and 55, relating to reports
Every contract OF hiring presumed to
be subject to provisions of fact. un-
less either party notify other in writ
ing Drior 10 accident Sixty days no
tlce required to terminate provisions
Of tine acts.
2 Removal OF three defenses if
employer elects not to come under
the act
8. Defenses retained If employe
elects not to come under the act.
T. All public and industrial EN-
ploymente covered, but not 1aborers
or domestic servants.
3. Policemen and flremen and
other municipal and State employees
covered.
6. Injuries caused wilfully or
through intoxication not covered.
I. Rights and remedies granted
under act exclude all other rights
and remedies.
g. Liability of third persons.
3. Contracting out forbidden.
10. Schedule of death benefits in
case death results from the injury
within two years. Burial expenses
and certain percentages of the de-
ceased employees weekly wage.
II. Dependents defined
II. Duration of compensation in
case Of death. 260 weeks the limit
10. Provisions as to death benefits.
Maximum and minimum, $40 and $5
respectively
IA. Medical attendance during first
wo weeks, SIS limit.
10. Total disability benefit of so