The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-06-23
MORE STATES
PASS LAWS FOR
WORKMEN
Thirty States Now Have
WOrkmen's Compensation
Acts as Result of Enact
ments by Recent Legisla-
lures.

New York. June 23.-To the list OF
twenty-five states IN which work
mems compensation laws were al
ready IN effect. eight more states and
the territory Of Alaska have this year
been added by the action Of their leg.
islatures during sessions which have
just come Co a close. This growth OF
the movement toward safeguarding
the welfare Of the laborer M his de-
pendents N revealed IN the summary
OF this years legislative activities,
which has been complied by The As
ISOLATED Press. The summary also
shows progress In the adjustment OF
child labor and in the direction OF
iimiting he WORKING hours OF minors.
The additional states TO adopt
Workmen's compensation are Wycm-
ing, Montana. oklahoma. Colorado.
Maine. Indiana. Vermont aud Penn
sylyania. Favorable action toward
the enactloa OF such a measure was
also taken by the legislature OF Utah,
which created a commission To In
vestisate the question and report a
bill for the consideration Of the next
legislature. In one state which con
sidered the matter, New Mexico, a
proposed workmen's compensation
law passed the house hut was defeat
ed Ia the senate. IN Idaho, the bill
was vetoed By ,hs governor. Several
other states revised their former laws
In order TO insure more efficient op-
Grafton.
somewhat different standards as ia
the way in which compensation should
I be awarded and the law administer
ed are shown In the measures enacted
this year. but this lack OF uniformity
H. also . feature Of various laws pre-
Viously passed "a other states. For
instance. under the new Colorado
statute iaiured workmcn will receive
SO per cent of their ages during in
capacity. though not 10 exceed IS a
week. In vase Of total permanent
disability. the compensation IL pay
able Through life. when death re-
suits from the accident. the workers
family is to receive a singular amoun'
tor six FEARS with a maximum of
$2.5O0. In case OF loss Of eyes hands
limbs or other members, similar pay
menis are to he made for a specified
period. varying from a few weeks e
four years. dependent upon the ma
uur- Of The injury.
Employers are required to insure
payment either in a state insurance
fund to be- created or n mutual oi
stock Insurance company. Admins
tration is placed In the hands OF az
industrial commission Of three mem
hers who shall adjust disputes ane
with authority 90 make awards 81
employers or Insurance companies ne,
gleot Ia make payments promptly
| Court proceedings are thereby prac'
ticaily eliminated.
The Maine law, however. awards
her Injured workmen payment by tn
employer Of not more han $40 a weei
In case Of total disability with a max
mum Of $4,000. Heirs In case 81
death receive the same and the scal'
NJ payments for those partly disable,
ranges from 81 10 SO a week.
Pennsylvania provided for the pay.
ment of 80 per ccnt of wages, bu
not more than $40 or less than 81
with q maximum total Of $4,000. Th'
act is elective and takes away from
the employers the common law de
lenses. but the people will vote 10
| November on a constitutional amend
ment permitting the legislature e
/ make IL compulsory. The ace create
a state insurance fuud, hut employ
ers are permitted To protect them
selves In any other form Of insurance
J or carry their oWn risks on approvn