The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-01-07
TWO THOUSAND ACCIDENTS
Workings of vermont's New Work
mems Compensation Law

men compensation Law
Montpelier, Dec 29-Vermont's H.
dustrial Accident board, which came
into being on the passage of the work
mems compensation act at the last
session of the legislature. has recei,.
ed in five and one-hail months reports
OF 1916 accidents. OF these, 1897
nave been finally disposed of by the
board, either on an agreement made
by the parties and approved by the
board after an investigation or on an
order OF the board after a hearing. OF
the remaining 4S9, 264 are practically
closed but are not so classed bcause
the final papers showing that the med
ical expenses and compensation due
has been paid, have not been filed
The board appointees OF Governor
Gates, is made up as follows: Robert
w. Simmonds, st. Johnsbury. chair
man, six years s. A. Daniels, Drattle-
boro, four years; F. S, Pease, DnrIing.
ton, two years; with Miss Laura NJ
Burbank, secretary.
The purpose of the law is 10 do
away with extensive litigation, to
place the burden OF industrial acct
dents upon the industry rather than
upon the employer or the employe
and to compensate, to some extent at
least the victims of Industrial acct
dents or injuries. The board simply
carries out the provisions of the law
as it was enacted by the legislators.
The act provides that medical at
tendance shall be furnished BY the
employer during the first IA days and
that the compensation shall not be-
gin until the 21st day. From this eX.
PLANTATION it may easily be seeh b. re-
ferring to the figures first mentioned
that the board has been able 10 keep
the work upto date but the matter
sounds much more simple than is
really the case.
The administration Of the lar has
been made as simple as POSSIBLE and
all necessary forms are provided by
the board and sent upon application
to anyone desiring tc make use OF
the same. When an accident occurs
the employer is required to send "A
report Of the same to the board with
in a period of 72 hours. In case the
injured man is not able to return to
work at the expiration of 60 days
from the time he met with the mishap
the employer files supplementary re-
port stating the fact and the probable
period of disability, when the employe
is again able to resume his duties, a
final report is filed
Owing to the wording OF the law,
the board has not favored settlements
by the payment OF lump sums, prefer
ring to have the injured man receive
his compensation weekly during the
period he is unable to labor.
Eight fatal accidents have been re-
ported since the law became effect
i've, July l, 1915, and in two Of these
cases the victims were Austrians and
it has been found impossible to COM
municate with relatives. The matter
has been taken up with the Austrian
consul in Boston for the purpose OF
determining whether thhere are de.
pendants Of the men within the mean
ing of the law.
While the act does not apply to con
Germs who employ less than IL men
unless they choose to come under the
provisions, many have taken advant
age of the optional clause and are OPP
Grating under the law.
In but single instance has either
the employer or the employee been rep
resented at hearing held before the
board by an attorney and an appeal
has yet to be taken from a decision
handed down by the board, a fact
which in itself speaks volumes for the
efficiency OF the members.
The board has yet to receive any
complaints against the law, as il
reads or has been interpreted by the
board and 1t appears to be in the
main satisfactory to employer and to
employee. @r