El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-23
COMPENSATION
LAWS IN 8 MORE
Protection for Workmen
Now in 80 States; Two
Prohibit Child Labor.

New York. June 23.-To the list OF
% states in which workmen's eompen-
sation laws were already in effect,
eight more states and the territory Of
Alaska have this year been added by
the action Of their legislatures during
sessions which have just come to
close This growth Of the movement to-
ward safeguarding the welfare Of the
labOrer and his dependents is revealed
in the summary Of this years legisla-
tive activities, which has been CON-
piled by the Associated Press. The
summary also shows progress in the
adjustment OF child labor and in the
direction Of limiting the working hours
Of minors
The additional states to adopt work
mems compensation are Wyoming,
Montana, oklahoma, Colorado, Maine,
Indiana. Vermont and Pennsylvania
Favorable action toward the enacuon
of such a measure was also taken BY
the legislature Of Utah. which created
commission to Investigate the question
and report a bill for the consideration
Of the next legislature. IN one state
which considered the matter, New Mex
leo. a proposed workmen's compensa-
tion law passed the house. but was de-
feated in the senate. In Idaho. the bill
was vetoed by the governor Several
other states revised their former laws
in order to insure more efficient opera
ton.
Somewhat different standards as to
the way in which compensat ton should
be awarded and the law administered
are shown in the measures enacted this
year but this lack Of uniformity is also
a feature of various laws previously
passed in other states. For instance,
under the new Colorado statute injured
workmen will receive so percent OF
their wages during incapacity. though
not to exceed IS a week In case OF
total permanent disability, the cOmpen-
sation is payable through life When
death results from the accident, the
workers family is to receive similar
amount for six years with maximum
of $500. In case OF loss OF eyes,
hands, limbs or other members. similar
payments are TO be made for specified
period. varying from a few weeks to
four years, dependent upon the nature
OF the injury
Employers Must Insure Payment.
Employers are required to insure pay
ment either in a state fund TO be ere
ated or a mutual or stock insurance
company Administration is placed IN
the hands OF an industrial commission
Of three memb ers who shall ADJUST DIS
putes and with authority TO make
awards II employers or insurance com
panies neglect to make pay lnehls
promptly Court proceedings are there
by practically eliminated
The Maine law, however. awards her
injured workmen payments by the en-
ployer Of not more than SO a week IN
case Of total disability. with maxi
mum Of $4,000. Heirs in case OF death
receive the same and the scale OF pay
ments for those partly disabled ranges
from 81 to SO a week.
PENNSYLVANIA provides for the pay
ment Of 50 percent Of wages. but not
more than $40 nor less tnan %, WIN !.
maximum total Of $4,000 The act Is
elective and takes away from the EN-
blowers the common law defences, out
the people will vote IN November on a
constitutional amendment permitting
the legislature to make II compulsory
The act creates q state insurance lund,
hut employers are permitted TO protect
themselves in any other FORM OF nsuI-
ance or carry their own risks on ap-
rroval OF the bureau OF Workmen s
Conversation which viii administer tho
law. Domestics and agricultural LABOR
ers are exempted
me Indiana law provides no state in
sr1rauce but permits the employer 70
seel- IL where he chooses. or not at all,
il he give proof Of his financial aolhty
10 nav the COMPENSATION. This is IlNed
at SIS percent Of the average wage not
to exceed 500 weeks. and in case OF
death. burial expenses to the DEFEND
ants not to exceed 500 and So percent
of the weekly wage for 300 weeks. DO
nestle servants and agricultural labor
ers are exempt and those engaged IN
i've with both employer and employe
and is administered by state inous-
trial commission.
FIFTY percent weekly wage. not to ex-
coed 500 weeks. is the basis Of the Okla
homa law.
Two Prohibit Child Labor.
Iowa and Alabama are the states
which prohibited child labor Maine
adopted a law under which women ana
bovs under 16 employed in mills. rae
tories and laundTies are not permitted
TO work more than 81 hours week
PENNSYLVANIA enacted a statute limiting
the hours OF labor OF children between
IA and 16 years to 81 hours week A
feature Of the law is that all such
children employed must go to vocation
al school at least eight hours week,
which must be computed in the 81
hours. thus making the actual working
hours 43. It further provides that no
messengers under q years can be en-
pIoyed by a telegraph. telephone or
messenger company after S o'clock at
night. and that no child under y can
sell newspapers. A statute along SIM
liar lines, fixing at 10 years the mini
mum age Of newsboys and other minors
engaged in street trades, was adopted
bv California. In North Carolina, bills
designed to enable officials better to
enforce the present child labor laws
failed TO pass.