The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-12-07
IN
ADMINISTRATION
Workmep's Compensatioa Twofold
Benefaction- Protects En-
ployer a. Well as the
Employee.


The Stat. of West virginia goes sbout
rts work ln quiet and uno-tentstiou.
manner. Every department of the stat
government 10 sctivs and alive Co Il = IN
terests of all the citizens of the state and
q the interest OF those Who come within
its borders 70 bsstsr their condition by
~orking ia the industries Of the state
Until . lew years ago there was con-
siderable complaint because of the lsrk
f protection ~ the working men rm-
plOyed in our industries ina the matter of
insurance against Ar-idents Occurring
turing the process Of employment. Thir
complaint grew in such proportions that
e becsme political issue. and in 1913
the legislature, IN RESPONSE TO . popular
iemsnd. enacted the fret worxm-n'.
compensation law. After two years OF
trial this law Was found TO l,~ .,ef~rtivs
at many points. and the state law max
my body IN 1915 session pss-ed the prs.-
ent law which has given pretty general
satisfaction and has PLACED West Virginia
IN tie ranks Of the lea.iing states in the
protection of it- working men. The Law
~ It stands 10 not. and no doubt its
sponsors do not claim it To lie, perfect.
Hut under wise and lar s~eing sdminis-
trstion snch - u has now and ha. cd
IA tine past the weak ness 81 the Law will
- points-i out and the Legislature. serv-
ing the interest Of the p-opls, will streng
tieI Il 90 that u will give. adequate and
Just prot-ction To the people oi the stat.
The Law is PrOt-ction both ~ em
ployers and labor sni u employees. IL
protects tie EMPLOYER by releasing him
from liability for srcidents in his husi-
ne-- and thereby Ie..ens the number of
suits st ls~ brought by employees. or
their dependents. IL protests employees
IN THAT n guarantees u them comp~n-
sstion during the time they are incsIaci-
'utsd Tor work f-csusv Of accident end
'n case of socident resulting fatally u
provides . competencs for those left de
pendent upon public charity
This department. Of state govsrnmsnt
bs. made remark able prOsr--. during ths
ps-t year. The figures are - large that
a 10 difficult for the average mind u sra-p
them. But tehind the figures are many
stories Of hslpfuIness IN time Of distress
4 cheer brought 10 homes by monthly
tension checks. Of widows and children
eft without husband and father being
enable b. live and have At least sufficient
- keep the family togrther ~ tire smoun,
-eceived from tie fund.
Tie number oi T,er.onsl injuries occur-
ing In the various industries II the state
iuring thr year vere ZZ,G3Z, Of which
gSy resulted IN death Compensation 70
the amount Of tl,3ls.1s3 81 us- mace
during this PERIOD. In the mining IN
du-try there we're 2js partial dissbilitie.
- totaiiy disabled snd $40 fatally injur-
81
sdcipOwell county t~irg tl,e largest co.l
producing county IN the state led in the
number Of INJURIES ~ith ~ psrt-l. eisn,
totally disabled aud ~ fs.sl sccidsnts.
Fsy~tte county came second With 4,
partial. four total and - fatal.
IL would possibly interest some who
resd the~ lines 70 know the proportion
of injuries received by Negroes T. other
rsos- We sive here the whites, Glazed
usually - American" and Nexro<s in
jured American (whits), 3O5 psrtis,,
IA total and 2s3 fatal injurie.. Negro:
tour partial. ssven total and 81 fatal
The fund shows bsalthy eondis ton