Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-27
OMPENSAT|ON IS
BEFORE THE PEOPLE
Governor Brumbaugh Issues the
Text of the Bills Which He Will
Back in Session


Pennsylvania's Legislature will re-
celve within the next fortnight what
| is considered to be the most COM
plete scheme for establishing a work
mems compensation act upon a basis
eIllhently tair and yet suited to the
sylvania. The tentative drafts of The
legislation were made public last night
by Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh.
VINO Is committed to the enactment of
such law and who has taken a
great interest in the preparation. The
Governor has publicly invited COM
ments and asks that remarks upon
feature be sent to him at the Capitol.
me acts were drafted, by Attorney
General Francis Skunk Brown after
consultation with employers, en-
pioyes, labor leaders, manufacturers
persons as Well as members of the In
dustrtal Accidents Commission which
mas made study of the proposition
for the last four years.
There are six proposed acts and
the constitutional amendment passed
last session and submitted this time
SO tnat III IL passes Ii may be submit
TED TO the voters of the State in No
VemDer. This amendment would give
the Legislature the right to enact COM
pulsory compensation and to limit the
amounts to be paid. The act as drawn
PROVIDES an elective system or a vol
untary contract and makes a schedule
or compensation. changing materially
the common law defenses.
Inc nrst act provides for work
men compensation; the second
creates the State bureau to enforce
the proposed act; the third establishes
state insurance fund: the fourth
Of
against liability under the proposed
act; the fifth authorizes the creation
of mutual liability associations, and
the sixth eXempts farm labor and do
mestlc servants from the compensation
act They are accompanied by the
proposed amendment and the whole
covers almost $50 pages of a pam
phlet.
1t is expressly stated that the act
calls for elective compensation, con-
tracts to be made after December 81.
1915. being presumed to accept it un-
less statement is filed to the con-
trary. Every employer liable shall in
sure the payment of compensation In
the State workmen's insurance fund
or In any authorized mutual associa-
tion or company.
The schedule provides: For first
5OO weeks after the 14th day of total
disa bflity fifty per cent. of wages re-
ceived at time of inquiry. but not less
than 50 nor more than $40 per week
and If less than So per week the full
amount. Provision is made for total
disability following partial disability.
For partial disability fifty per cent.
OF the difference between the wages
reserved st and the earning power there
aIter, limited to $40 per week and to
SOO weeks, provision being made for
total disability ensuing. The specified
payments are as follows: Loss of
nand, 90 per cent. for 175 weeks: arm.
90 per cent for 215 weeks; foot, so
per cent. for $50 weeks; leg. so per
cent. for 215 weeks: eye. so per cent
for 125 weeks; for loss of two or
more members, not constituting total
disability, so per cent during the ag-
gregate period specified for each. No
compensation shall be allowed for the
flrst fourteen days. but employer must
furnish surgical or medical care un-
to be limited to $25 unless major op-
GRAFTON when it shall be SIS.
In event of death the schedule shall
be: child or children if there be no
widow, 20 per cent of wages with ten
per cent. additional for each child in
excess OF Two with maximum of so
per cent; widow or widower with no
children, 40 per cent; with one child,
40 per cent; with two children. so
per cent; with three children 55 ner
cent; with four children, 60 per cent.
II there be neither widow, widower
or children, then 20 per cent. to de-
penuent parents or parent; with a
scale Tor other dependents. Burial
expenses are limited to 800. Children
must be under sixteen wears to be
benefciaries. Provision is made for
aliens, commutation, notices and ex-
aminations and other details of adj
ministration.
The procedure is provided in a sec
ton which provides for referees. the
fling of contracts, notices and other
papers with the bureau created in the
second act, the board to name referees.
The board of administration is TO
be composed of three to be named
by the Commissioner of Labor with
approval of the Governor and to be a
bureau of the Department of Labor
and Industry. The commissioner is to
De an eX-officio member of the board.
The members are to be named for
tour years and removable by the com
missioner. The Attorney General will
be eX-offlcio counsel and name attor-
neys. The board is to divide the
State into districts and to name as
many referees as needed There are
also to be a secretary and sergeant-at- |
arms. The salary of the chairman of |
the board is to be $500: members,
$1,000; secretary, $4,000; sergeant-at- |
arms, $1,000; referees, $2,5O0. From
three to twenty-four clerks are au-
thorized, half of whom shall be ste |
nographers at $1.4O0 with clerks to
referees at $1,000 each and a mes
senger at $1,000. Provision is made |
for service of subpenas and for wit
nesses.
The State workmen's insurance fund
is to be administered by the State
Workmen's Insurance Board consisting |
of the Commissioner of Labor and In |
dustry, the Commissioner of Insur- !
ance and the State Treasurer. The
fund is a State controlled mutual as |
ISOLATION in reality says the digest |
The State is to pay the expenses of |
the fund administration until January, |
1918, or until it becomes self support |
ing, five per cent. of premiums is to be !
set aside for surplus until il reaches
100000 and they may then deter |
mine what percentage to set aside. |
The premiums are to he paid accord |
ing to scale, according to nature of |
business of employers and probable |
risk on injury therein. Investments |
are tn he made on he rlan |