Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-01

II Ten new State laws, passed by the
last Legislature including the work.
mems compensation act and the child
labor act, became effective with the New
Year at midnight.
# Others which will be enforced on and
after today are the uniform sales act.
fhe stock transfer act, the practice act
Tor Common Pleas Courts and acts pro-
'Siding for increased powers of second
Glass cities relative to building inspec-
ion and five prevention; for State
amendment of anthracite and btuminous
eoal-mining acts SO that miners shall
De brought under the workmen's com
|pensation system, and for uniform
policy contracts for fire insurance, and
The issuance OF forms for taxation of
Corporations under the acts of 1915 and
Dor the operation of the escheat act.
The workmcns compensation act and
he chid-abor act, the most important
of the new laws, have been termed the
most far-rcaching and humane acts in
1heIr respective fields in the United
states. They affect more persons than
Ill of the other acts combined They
Represent years of study and systema-
fic campaigning.
i FAR-REACHING BILLS.
8 Six separate laws cover the subject of
sorkmen's compensation. The first Is
Inc general measure covering the sub
5ect of compensation; the second pro-
1ides for it's administration; the third
creates State insurance fund; the
Fourth and fifth relate to liability and
mutual insurance, and the sixth exempts
domestic servants and agricultural work
4rs A seventh BILL constitutional
amendment permitting compulsory
Compensation act, will be presented to
fhe 1917 Legislature, and, II passed, will
De submitted to the people for approval.
The present law is elective, having been
made so to avoid constitutional pitfall
which prevents a compulsory compensa-
Ion act.
& The bill affects 10000 employees and
900 employers. and its influence will be
felt in the estimated 10000 accidents
Which occur in this State every year. 1t
provides for almost immediate compen-
zatlon for injured workmen and other
Employees without long-drawn court pro-
seedings. and provides relief for depend
=nts left by deaths caused by accidents
ID affects large and small employers
8like. reaching out into all manufacture
Ing trades to protect all workers except
domestic servants, IarmhandS ana per-
IONS in casual occupations,
STATE INSURANCE FUND.
One of the features of the law is that 1t
Creates a State insurance fund, which
went into effect with the other sections
Df the bill. This was Incorporated in the
pill to win the cooperation of employers
Rnd TO make the bill fair I'm the broadest
kense and is i'm direct line with the policy
bf the main act, which provides premiums
for safety devices and the observance OF
the ''safety all the time" slogan.
Four forms OF liability insurance are
provided by the act, Asserting employers
bre required TO either insure in the State
aYorkmens Compensation Insurance Fund
Created by a separate act, or in an au-
shorized stock or mutual company, or to
Furnish proof TO the bureau of their
financial ability TO make compensation
payments direct. Another collateral law
fequires that insurance policies must pro-
|side for payments direct TO employees in
base OF employers default or insolvency.
|rhe law permits the employer 10 insure
any designated class or part Of his em-
ployes against any particular hazard. but
ptherwtse than this, permits no Limitation
|pf the insurers liability. 1t also requires
Insurance companies to file with the Com
missioner OF Insurance their classitica-
ions of risks and premium rates. which
|Are TO be subject TO his approval. This
applies equally TO the stock and mutual
.Hompanies.