Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-03-23

UUSUI-
tai charges is desirable. We make no
with respect thereto,
deeming 1t the duty of the parties re-
eerred to present their case to the
general assembly.
The District System of Administration
The foregoing suggests another as
pect Of the practical operation of the
interest. That Is the district system
of administration which seems to be
peculiar to Connecticut. For some
cause. the precise nature of which need
not be analysed or speculated upon,
the legislative mind in most states has
fixed upon some central authority to be
located at the state capitol as an in
strumentalfty in giving effect to the
terms OF the act.
In our opinion the most unsatisfac-
tory method OF administration is by
the courts. Either the reserve and
dignity which has wisely attached to
strictly judicial tribunals must. be re-
Taxed in dealing with these cases. or
the parties to compensation claim
must be deprived of that informality
and personal guidance which expert
ence has found to be necessary for the
prompt and equitable satisfaction of
the terms of the act
On the other hand, administration
OF the act by a central authority To-
Gated at the state capitol, while pos
SCSSAuS a certain bureaucratic eTn-
cheney and responding to a current
tendency in legislation which may or
may not be wise in other matters &C
cording as it is applied, does not in our
opinion fully meet the needs of the
situation.
Welfare Work.
1t is significant that during the two
years s61,549.22 has been expended for
emergency treatment, nurses and pri-
vate hospitals maintained on the en-
ployers' plants. This is 5S.7 per cent.
OF the amount expended for medical
surgical and hospital treatment by
physicians in general practice and in
public hospitals by the same class of
employers. This extra expenditure for
what is generally described as welfare
work is deemed by the employers as
fairly due to the provisions of the act.
Along with this should be considered
the sum Of $47,654.93 discussed for
safety devices which, as reported by
the employers, presumably would not
have been expended but for the exist
ence of the act" In other words. the
sum of $93,14s.01 has been devoted to
quasi-humanitarian ends by this class
OF employers which would not have
been so devoted but Cor the act.
Total Cost of the Act.
1t is naturally a matter of public in
terest to ascertain as nearly as posi-
BILE what the workmen's compensation
act has cost the employers and people
of the state. Combining the figures
appearing under foregoing captions
the results are as follows:
Expenditure of self-insurers. Jan. 1,
1914, to Nov. 1, 1914, sS6.551.73; Nov.
!, 1914. 10 Nov. l, 1915, $3.50, 711.67
total. 56.263.40.
Expenditures through insurance
companies, Jan. l, 1914, to Nov. 1. 1914
$3e6,6S4-30 Nov. 1, 1914 to Nov. i
1919 SG06 AK So mo Z
To this should be added the approx
mate amount expended by employers OF
all classes for welfare work and safety
devices, this operation producing g
grand total of Sits, 32S.1S. This
leaves out of account the item of SI4.-
roy self-insurers and an indefinite sum
not ascertainable representing the diff
| ference between the amount actually
disbursed by insurance companies as
| shown above and the amount collected
by them in premiums from insurers.
To the above grand total should also
be added the sum of $4,000 as admin.
| istration expenses for the first two
years.
Revocation of Insurers License.
The averages appearing under z
| foregoing caption are rendered les.
creditable to the commissioners and
to the employers and insurance com.
7 HNAANS ~ AAAG VI
individual companies. We have OBJ.
served that there is great difference
between insurance companies in re.
spect to the manner in which they
settle their claims. While the number
of cases in which there is resort tC
technicalities or sharp practice is SC
small as to be dismissed from consid.
Grafton, the instances of dilatory and
/ unbusinesslike methods are quite con-
| siderable in number. Some companies
endeavor to settle their claims by cor.
respondence, asking the employer L
/ secure the execution of the papers and
make the payments. Others employ
no adjuster in the state, but delegate
the function of settling claims to theil
agents or solicitors, who in many case:
| are unfamiliar with this aspec of the
work, and negligent in giving it atten-
| ton.
We therefore recommend that the
general assembly at it's next session
enact legislation giving the board o.
| compensation commissioners power 4
/ lodge complaint with the Insurance.
| commissioner against any licensed in.
surer operating under the compensa,
ton act and require a hearing befort
| that official. In the event that it b,
| shown that such insurance compan,
| has failed to be reasonably prompt il
/ commissioner should be given author
ity to revoke or suspend the license o
such insurer.
Frivolous and vesatious Appeals.
One other change which we recon
mend is this: We therefore sugges
that the law be so amended as to pro
vide that, when an appeal from tn
decision of a compensation commits
sioner is taken to the superior cour
land such appeal shall be, in the judg
ment of such court, frivolous or takel
for purpose of vexation or delay, tn
superior court shall be permitted t
tax costs in its discretion.
Discrimination Against Detectives.
One question not in terms referre,
to in the last annual report, but dis
cussed before the judiciary committee
is of importance, and sooner or late
will call for consideration by your ex
cellency and by the legislature. Tha
is the considerable number of person
who are able to work, who desire [,
work, and who are working and sup
porting themselves and their families
but who have various physical defect
/ which make their employment impos'
a special hazard on their employers.
II is already noticed that many larg,
manufacturers are carefully scrutiniz
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