New Britain herald., 1915-09-08

also referred the report of the special commission on consolidation. This
 commission was appointed by the gov-
 ernor to consider the advisability of
 consolidating the various state boards
 and commissions and was composed
 of the following nine members:
 William H. Carmalt, New Haven,
 doctor; Howell Cheney, Manchester,
 manufac cturer; Ernest P. Chesbro,
 Willimantic, real estate dealer; George
 E. Hill. Bridgeport, lawyer; Lewis
 Sperry. South Windsor, lawyer; James
 E. Wheeler, New Haven, lawyer; Lu-
 cius B. Whiton, New London, manu-
 facturer; Dudley L. Vail, Winsted
 manufacturer; Edward K. Root, Hart
 ford, doctor.
 This commission held a number of
 hearings on. the consolidation of the Factory Inspector and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at which hearings our members apeared and argued against the consolidation but the commission and the governor were determined that labor should be defeated and sent report to the General Assem- bly, recommending the consolidation, which report was referred to the Ju- dietary. The committee then held a hearing on a bill which had been in- troduced to establish state depart ment of labor Again our members fought against it but the Judiciary Committee reported favorably and the bill passed, bringing under one head the departm ents which labor was in- strum ental after years of struggle, in making of value to the state and it's people.
 Watch Commissioner.
 A missioner has been appointed, (not @ labor man, in this departmen ent of labor) but a lawyer. We will watch with interest what effect this change will have.
 That important legislation, the compensation law, was also before the Judiciary Committee. There had been many bills amending the law, some going so far as trying to repeal it while others would have greatly reduced the value of it. The bill that the Federation had intro duced was fair and would have made the present law more beneficial to those that are unfortunately injured in the industries of our state. The hearing before the committee on the bills concerning the amending of the compensation law were memorable ones; the first one was held at such a short notice that our members pro- tested and another hearing was grant ed. This was, to my mind, the best hearing ever held in the General As sembly. Our memb bers filled the big Hall and a large num- Der spoke. Every one put up some splendid arguments in favor of our pill. We had the able assistance of Professor Willard c. Fisher, of Mid and the Hon. c. J. Danaher, ! If Meriden. The Judiciary Commit l ee reported 8 bill favorably amend | ng the compensation law, but not l o the extent that the working people l of Connecticut are entitled to. l
 Changes In Compensation Law.
 The following are the most import ! mt changes in the law: The medical | and surgical treatment is extended to | IS long as the injury requires it. Un- l Ter the old law these benefits were | only for thirty days. The waiting period, before compensation begins, nas been reduced from two weeks to ,en days. Partial incapacity section aas been amended so that in no case shall be less than five dollars per week. These are sev- eral other minor changes, but only of a clarifying nature. The act also leaves it optional for the employer of less than five employees to come under the act.
 The abolishing of the contract sys- tenn in the penal institutions was an other bill that received a crushing blow at the hands of the legislature. We had hoped that our efforts by the campaign which we car ried on in different parts of the state sh owing the unfairness of the present system would receive proper consid- eration and that we would be able to rid this state of that damnable con- tract system, where the unfortunate men, women and children are slaving for some private contractor.
 The hearing on the bill which Rep resentative Martin German had intro duced for the Federation was held before the Joint Committee on State Prison and the labor committee and was largely attended by labor men from all parts of the state. Facts and figures were produced showing the injustice of the present system by such able men as MT. Collis P. Lovely of Boston, General Vice-Presi- detn of the Boot and Shoe Workers Union; MT. John I. Man ming of New York, Vice-President of the International Garment Workers; Dr. E. Stagg Whitin of Columbia Uni versity, New York; Professor Willard C. Fisher of Middletown, all members of the National Committee on Prisons and Prison Labor; Hon. Herbert Knox Smith of Hartford; Hon. George A. Romans of Danbury. All the speakers have made a study of the prison system all over this coun- try but their pleading fell upon deaf ears as did the remarks of the labor