The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-01-14
IDEA GROWING RAPIDLY

Some of the Loans Passed Provide For
Lump Sum Payments Arbitrarily
liberal In Regard to Temporary Dis
abiIity-Progress In Safety Laws.
Ii proof were needed of the rapid
growth OF the idea of compensation Of
workmen for injuries received in the
course of employment as substitute
for the old liability acts, it would be
found in bulletin No. 1So, by the bu-
reau of labor statistics of the United
States department OF labor
The legislation of the year 1914 in
cluded three states Kentucky, Louisi-
ana and Maryland. One of these laws,
that of Kentucky. was declared un-
constitutional before it came into oper
alton. That of Maryland superseded
an earlier statute reported as unwork-
able The new laws of 1915 cover
eight states-Colorado Indiana, Maine,
Montana. Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
Vermont and Wyoming, besides the
territories of Alaska and Hawaii The
legislation of 1914 included also a pres
idential order providing compensa-
ton system for employees of the Pan
anna canal and the Panama railroad,
while shat of the current year includes
a similar order extending the Federal
compensation act of 1908 to workmen
engaged on or about the government
railway in Alaska With the legisla-
ton of these two years. thirty-one
states and the territories of Alaska
and Hawaii now have compensation
laws. Federal statute covers also
about one-fourth OF the civilian EN-
ployees of the United States. All of
this legislation has been enacted since
1908, and practically all of the existing
legislation in the states since 1910.
OF the new laws Of 1914 and 1918
one, that of Wyoming. must be classed
as a compulsory insurance law. while
those of Maryland and Oklahoma are
compulsory compensation laws. In the
other states, eight in number the law
permits the employer 10 elect or reject
the compensation act. In ease he. re;
jects it. however. he is deprived of the
customary defenses under the liability
laws
Some of the newer laws have certain
features which are of special interest
and worthy Of mention The Okla
homa statute for example. applies only
to cases of normal accidents. while III
Wyoming all awards, whether for
death or disability. are in the form of
lump sum payments arbitrarily fixed
by the statute without regard to the
earning capacity Of the injured person.
The Alaska statute also provides for
lump sum payments EXCEPT for tempo
rary disability. Legislation elsewhere
has very generally provided for period
ical payments graduated according to
wage loss. and this method is favored
by practically all authorities.
OF the new laws of 1914 and 1915 the
Wyomng act is the least liberal, the
compensation for death being limited
to funeral expenses of 500 and maxi
mum death benefit of $1,000. In com
parison with this the Colorado statute
provides for maximum of $500,
~
ute is $4,000. In cases of temporary
disability the Colorado law is more IL
liberal than any other. as it provides
for no compensation for disabilities not
extending beyond three weeks. In the
statutes of other states the waiting
time has usually been fixed at one or
two weeks, no state except Colorado
y. q Ioppor Tapiod
In the legislation of 1914 and 1915
special boards or commissions for adj
ministration continue TO be preferred.
the laws of Alaska and Wyoming be-
ing the only ones enacted during 1915
which do not have this provision. In
Maine, Maryland. Oklahoma and Yer
mont the administrative authorities are
given no powers other than those re
lating to the administration of the com
pensation acts In Hawaii county
boards with functions restricted to the
compensation act are provided for. In
Louisiana the law is administered by
the courts.
The prevention of accidents as well
as compensation is provided for In a
number Of the new laws. Thus the in
dustrial commission of Colorado is
charged not only with the administra-
ton of the compensation act, but also
with the duty of factory and mine in
spection. the enforcement of woman
and child labor laws and safety laws
generally. Corresponding provisions
are found also in the laws of Indiana
and Montana
Promise of future progress in com
pensation legislation is found in the
provision for a commission in Utah for
the purpose Of drafting Il compensation
bill and in the amendments to the con
stitutions of two or three states the
purpose of which is TO permit the en-
actment of more inclusive and effec-
tive laws than is believed possible un-
der the present laws of the states.