Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-18
LEGISLATURE NEWS
COMPENSATION
AMENDMENTS UP
Prolonged Discussion of the
Proposed Changes to the
States System

The Michael and Woodward amend
ments to the workmen's compensation
acts were debated for three hours in
the hall of the House late yesterday
afternoon and the Labor and Indus
try Committee adjourned without talk
ing any action, deciding to have fur
ther consultation about the effect Of
the measures especially at this time.
1t is likely that a further hearing
may be held on certain points, but
this Is not determined.
The hearing was attended by labor
leaders from all over the State and by
many prominent employers, while
there were also representatives from
the Employers Association of Pitts
6urgh; the Beaver COUNTY, Erie, York,
Lancaster, Montgomery, Delaware,
Luzerne and Lackawanna Manufac-
turers' Associations. comprising many
influential men; the Cloth Weavers'
association; Worsted Spinners' Asso-
citation, Launderers' Association and
Metal Trades Association, of Philadel-
phia. Roger Dever, the Wilkes Barre
lawyer, was the leader for the labor
people, and Joseph r. Grundy was
prominent among the manufacturers.
",
man of the legislative committee of
the medical societies of the State, pre-
sented the speakers for the doctors on
their bills, heading quite a delegation
OF medical men, including several Har-
Fisburgers.
Probably the most important mat
ter developed was that the State Com
pensation Board is not backing any
o1lls ecXept a few to make admin
lstrative changes. Chairman Harry A.
Mackey said that the board had been
endeaVoring to administer the law
fairly and had no suggestions regard
ing the proposed radical amendments.
Roger Dever, r. ]. McGrath, Pitts
nurgh; John A. Phillips. Philadelphia;
Ihomas Kennedy, hazleton; S. r.
farmer, Pittsburgh, and other labor
representatives pleaded for the two
thirds compensation, the seven-day
disability clause, the schedule of dis
ngurement compensation and other
changes as simple justice for toilers
and their dependents.
Dr. McAlister, DR.. T. S. Blair and
other medical speakers urged that the
doctors be given a square deal as they
are not paid for what they really do
They said that the proposed fee
change would simply give the doctors
the prevailing charges in the commun-
lty' DR.. Blair making the point that
dressings now cost much more than a
year ago because of the war.
William /. Schaffer, of Chester, who
made the chief speech against the
changes, held that war time was no
time to make radical changes in the
act, a view also taken by H w
Moore, Philadelphia, and Henry I.
Wilson, Brookville. Mr.. Schaffer re-
ferred to the successful operation of
the act, the amicable agreements and
the good feeling brought about be-
tween employers and employees and
declared that the act was really un-
tried and that the system should not
be tampered with until times were
normal and any suggested changes
could be studied from all angles by
experts. He made much of the point
that no one knew what the act would
mean in few years and that If the
amendments were adopted no one
could tell the ultimate cost, which
must be borne by the public