The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-08
LABOR LEGISLATION

With the opening of Congress the demand for just compensation sys- tenn for federal employees is brought actively forward once more by the in trcduction of the -McGi1lfeuddy bill, by Representative McGil1icuddy of Maine. This bill was promoted in the last Congress and was reported favorably by the House judiciary com nittee. It has been endorsed by. the American Federation of Labor. the National Association of Letter Car r1ers, United States Customs Employees Associations, the Affiliated Trades of New York Navy Yard and numerous other unions of civilian employees of the United States. The bill moreover is favored by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the government de- partme lent in charge of the sadministra- tion of the present inadequate law.
 Drafted by the American Associa- ton for Labor Legislation the propos- ed law fixes the basis of cOmpensa- ton at two-thirds of wages during dis ability instead of 100 per cent for only one year, at present, it gives ade- quate medical treatment to the 1nJur- ed, it includes within the scope of the act all civilian employees of the United States and it provides compensation for occupationa1 diseases. such as leaN poisoning, anthrax and compressed air illness.
 The complete inadequacy of the existing compensation law of 1905, which is said to be the worst in ex- istence, is nowhere better understood than by the administrative officials. Dr. LindIey D. Clark, whose work it has been to administer compensation for federal employees made a, scathing attack on the existing low which he described as "crude and inadequate" in the latest issue of the Journal of Political Economy.
 He points out that while the present law was a, pioneer act in this country many of its mistaken provisions could have been avoided by a study of the European compensation systems al- ready we'll established when the law was drafted Even with the exten- lsions of the present law by amend ments Dr. Clark points out that at least one-ha,1f of the nations army of workers is not entitled to any compen- sation. He writes: +'This leaves a,bout one-ha1f without redress at law in case of fatal or disabling injury and in many cases these persons are ex- posed to identical hazards with those protected by the act. but because the establishment is not one of those neu- merated they are excluded It is poor consolation to an injured person, or his dependents in case of death, to be told that the employment in which he
  dents in it being very unusual
 Further Dr. Clark writes: Another defect is in the inadequacy of relief in the case of Serious or permanent disability or ofbdeath. Where disabil- ity is permanent or death ensues, the amount of one years wages is in most. cases "a mere pittance, and not worthy the name of compensation" For mi nor injuries of 16 or more days with complete recovery, the payment of full wages not only makes the amount of relief disproportionate1y large, but IS also contrary. to all compensation practice. The lack of provision for medical and surgical aid under the present law is also contrary to other compensation experience.
 Eex states: < Under the act of 1908, unsanitary practices may be persisted in and surgical operations, however slight and however beneficial in pros pects may be refused, and compensa- ton still be demanded as of right.
 Administrative provisions are also inadeQuate eenother question of large importance relates to adminis- tration,'' writes pr. Clark. '"The law Of 1908 is exceedingly seanty in it's provisions in this respect, and core sponging1y inadequate, with unsatis- factory results in relation to the var ious departments and establishments affected and the office charged with the duty of administration.
 s.Bil1s representing experience of ad- ministration and a wide and careful study of the many questions involved have been introduced in Congress but have failed of enactment, rather from inertia and from press of other mat ters than on account of any apparent opposition, many if not all of the de- partments interested having given their approval to the idea of more inclusive and better balanced law
 s.Otherl details might be pointed. out but enough has been said to show the need of new legislation, by Congress at the earliest opportunity. on this subject of such general interest and of special importance to the empIeyes of the United States