Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-10-18
Injured WOrkmen
Want Lump Sums

SiXty-siX per cent of the Oregon
workmen who suffered permanent
partial disabilities such as the loss
of fingers, toes or an eye during the
first year of operation Of the indus
trial accident commission elected to
take their compensation in lump
sums. For such injuries the COM
pensation law allows the laborers the
option of taking their payment in
payments of $25 monthly or in single
payments of amounts somewhat less
than the total of the installment pay
ments.
The theory of the Oregon law is
that compensation should be made by
monthly payment. For the injuries
which more seriously cripple or hand
leap the workman, such as the loss
OF 4 foot or an arm, compensation is
restricted to payment in monthly in
stallments.
The first annual report of the
commission states that the first
years experience shows the law ap-
plying to injuries in which the OPP
tion of lump payment or monthly
payments is allowed is not generally
understood, and offers the following
illustration and example:
A workman losing an entire thumb
and being unable to work for two
months would be entitled to
monthly payment during that period
as follows: Where the wage at the
time of injury was s1.92 per day or
less, single workmen, $50; married,
s96; and Sc additional for each
child under 16 years of age, with
maximum monthly payment per fam
lily of $50. These minimum pay
ments are made regardless of how
small the wage of the workman may
be. Where the workman is receiv-
ing wage of more than $1.92 per
day, these payments may be increased
by so per cent, but the increase can |
not operate to make the total month
ly payment exceed 60 per cent of the
wages received by the workman at
the time of the accident.
The law provides twenty-four
monthly payments Of $25 each for
the loss of thumb. The workman
being able to resume his employment
at the end of two months, and having
been paid during these two months
according, to the above schedule,
would then be entitled to twenty-five
further monthly payments of $40
each or the payment in a lump sum
of $3.50. Where compensation, how
ever, is taken in lump sum for the
loss of the first, second or third fin
gers, or for the loss of an eye, the act
provides a lump sum payment some
what less than would be received II
the workman chose to take compensa-
tion in monthly nstallments.
Applications were received Tor
lump sums from workmen suffering
the loss of an arm or foot In one
instance it was desired to pay off
mortgage on a small farm, in another
case the money was to be used in pur-
chasing a REIMBURSEMENT on a land
claim, while in others the injured
workmen wished to engage in some
small business enterprise. In several
cases, also, injured workmen request
ed payment of lump sums sufflclently
large to purchase artificial arms or
legs. The commission, however, after
considering the terms OF the
law, became convinced that 1t was
without authority to make lump sum
payments in these cases, and there
fore felt compelled to refuse awards
Of this character.
While authority is given the COM
in its discretion, to make
lump sum payments under certain
conditions in fatal cases, no applica-
ions for such awards were made dur
ing the first twelve months.