Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-05-14

information in this country and in
other lands as to what had already
been done in the direction OF acci-
dent prevention, and the codifying of
all this material in such form as
makes it available and practically
applicable to the great variety of
businesses to be insured For many
months the stock companies assigned
to this work the very highest degree
of skill and intelligence which they
are able to employ, men graduated
from the best technical schools, and
then employed for years in various
forms of Industrial processes. Such
men are entitled to, and receive,
large salaries. The results Of their
work have been embodied in what
is known as the universal analytic
schedule, which schedule. together
with its supplements and enlarge
ments (the schedule does not yet
cover the entire range of all employ
ments) is the guide now used by all
insurance carriers in inspecting and,
on the basis Of inspection, calculat-
ing the credits to which each in
dividual risk may be entitled
This system of inspections is not
only of vital Importance to the end
that each risk may carry the rate to
which it's own condition entities it.,
but also operates constantly toward
the prevention OF accidents and the
consequent lowering of the percent
age of disability and death resulting
from Industrial occupations. Many
agencies are engaged at this time in
this country in this humanitarian
work, II is a good sign for America
that the Safety First" idea engages
so large a share of the attention Of
SO many elements of our population.
Let it be borne in mind, always, that
the stock insurance companies have
probably contributed more in money,
brains and time toward the accomp-
lishment Of this great reform and
are pledged through this system of
inspection ratings to a more intelli-
gently sustained prosecution of this
work, than any other single agency
in America today.
Here again is an illustration of the
actual identity between the natural
and proper purpose of the stock COM
panies to conduct their business for
profit, and the highest degree of
practical efficiency in advancing
humanitarian and public spirited un-
dertakings.
1t should be remembered that the
accumulated resources in trained
men and in financial strength of the
Stock Companies make these things
possible. If the Stock Companies
with these resources had not been in
this business, these advanced meth
DDS, so fruitful of benefit to employ
ers and employees as well, would
have been utterly out of the ques-
tion las
The Worlzmen's Compensation
Law OF the State of Maryland was
enacted by the General Assembly at
the session of 1914 and went into
effect on November 1st of that year
hence, it has been in actual operation
about a year and a half. That is
entirely too short a period to offer
a dependable demonstration Of the
effect of the law as to the value or
otherwise of its features in detail as
compared or contrasted with similar
laws of other States. In the main,
the law appears SO far to have given
a reasonable degree of satisfaction
to employers, employees, insurance
carriers, social workers and the
public generally.
The Commission appointed by
Governor Goldsborough to admins
ter the law has put forth earnest, in
telligent and conscientious efforts to
interpret and enforce the law with
fairness to all concerned. Perhaps
they have not succeeded in eliciting
absolutely unanimous approval Of all
of their rulings. That would be too
much to expect. Very few Of their
rulings have, however, been appealed
from to the courts, and of those
which have been appealed from the
great majority have been sustained.
There seems to be a very general
disposition on the part of all who are
interested in the law in the State Of
Maryland to cooperate in good faith,
SO that its administration shall ac-
complish in the largest possible
measure the good results which the
enactment Of this class of legislation
is designed to promote.
At the recently adjourned session
of the Maryland General Assembly a
number OF amendments to this law
we're introduced, the majority OF
which failed of passage. or those
which were enacted the most inn
portant appear to be the following:
lst--Imposing upon the principal
contractor a liability for compensa-