New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-11
DIRECT PAYMENTS
URGED BY MILLS
Senator Quotes Figures in
Answer to Democratic
HeCklerS.
SHOWS PRESENT
SYSTEM COSTLY
Defends as a Necessity Rider in
WOrkmen's Compensation
Commission Bill.

Iron 8 stan Correspondent ~ Tho Tilun'
Albany, March 10.--A newspaper arti-
Gle telling of the suferings Of several
score of women employees OF the Work
mems Compensation Commission, read
to-day by the minority leader. Senator
Wagner, started n two hours debate in
the Senate, which resulted in senator
/ Ogden l.. Mills being hecklcd by the
/ Democratic members dut ng the better
| part of the time
Senator Mills defended the rider per
hitting direct payments, after the mi
nority leader declared Il should be
stricken from the bill! approprlatlng
S425,000 for the work Of the commits
sion until next October. -.
/ "The amendment was necessary,
said Senator Mills, because, when we
cut down the Appropriation asked Tor
by the commission, we had 10 ind n
way for the commission 10 live within
its means. With 10000 accident cases
year, the commission would need a
large clerical force, unless we provided
/ for direct settlement"
| Senator Mills Immediately became
I the object of attack from Senators
I Wagner, Foley and Joseph, and IN re-
ply to their criticisms he produced hg-
ures showing that IN Massachusetts
where direct settlement obtains, 1t
costs the state only So an award, while
in this state it costs S25.
"The system in this state is so hope
/ lessly complicated" said Senator Mills,
that the delays now 30 common can
never be eradicated under the present
order"
Figures showing delays o. from two
I to three months in settling claims OF
/ injured workmen were then offered 70
| the Senate. Again the Democrats took
/ Mr.. Mills to Sqsk, demanding where he
got his figures He eIlcnced them on
+ this score when he told them he OBJ
tanned them last Saturday from the
office of the Workmen's Compensation
Commission.
"The direct settlement clause will en-
able the injured workman to obtain
money when he most needs il; when he
is laid up in bed without funds, and
with a wife and children in want, and
not two or three months after he has
recovered" said Senator Mills.
Senator WagDcr stirred the ire OF
the majority leader. Senator Brown, b.
putting the blame on the present ad-
ministration for Employees o. the Com
mission being without their salaries
. for six weeks.
"The fault lies first with the last ad-
mnistration for not providing the ne
cessary appropriation for the Commits
sion, and next with the Commits sion,
which has wasted S2O),OO0," said Sena-
tor Brown, land | believe the thinking
workmen Of this state understand
Senator Wagncr's pose and know II 10
be inspired by an attempt to cultivate
their suffrage"
Senator William NJ. Bennett declared
the state was spending money like a
drunken sailor or work one day that II
undid the next.
"The Republican party" said Senator
Bennett, who was elected on a Republi-
Progressive ticket, has embarked
on stormy sea, on a rudderless ship
with tattered sails that cannot hold tho
wind-a ship without pilot and with
a paralyzed crew"
az recall that in 1912" said Senator
Mills. Senator Bennett left the shiI
only to climb up the gangplank in 1874
! would like TO know now if he is pre-
pairing to make another high dive. \.
to the paralyzcd crew, will offer a.
exhibit A, Senator Jones"
do you mean to say I'm paralyzed ?
demanded Senator Jones, VINO is I
member of the Anti-SaloOn League.
"Gentlemen, this is not discussion
Of the excise matter" exclaimed Sena
tor George F. Thompson, of Niagara
and the fray ended in roar OF laugh
ter. followed by the withdrawal Of tn,
motion made by Senator Wagner to en-
able him to read the article which gave
rise 10 the discussion.
Two bills affecting the WorkmenI
Compensation Commission were intro
duccd to-day. One, by Senator Georg
+. Spring, consolidates the LGkrT De
partment and the Compensation Com
mission, and the other, by Senator Rob
crt r. Lawson, amends the law gen
orally. II provides that the question
first be submitted 10 a referendum
Senator Springs measure provides TO
three commissioners, with six-yea
terms. The chairman is TO receive IS,
600, while the other two members ar
to get $4,000 each Two deputies a
$4,000 each are provided for.
Senator Lawson introduced to-day
bill designed to carry compensation 70
all employees in the state, whether thel
follow hazardous occupations or not
The bill would repeal the present Law
and create a state accident compensa
ton fund. The measure would have I,
be submitted TO the voters at the ney
general election before becoming ef
fectlve.
Talk of Compromise.
4 compromise on the workmcn'
conversation bill, which would permi
direct settlement pending final reyie'
by the commission, probably will b.
suggested at a meeting of the confer
enue committee tomorrow. Assembl,
members of the committee said the,
would seek such settlement
The bill as passed by the Senat
would provide for direct settlement be
tween employers and employees. Thi
was stricken out in the Assembly a
the direction of the Republican caucus
but the Senate refused to concur in tn
bill. Senate conferrees insisted IN
direct settlement feature be included
e - h1tr mill