Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-08
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY
TO Be FIXED BY STATUTE
Report OF Workmen's COMPENSATION
Commission Is Made Public by
Secretary kruck.
SCHEDULE OF PAY FOR INJURY
Commission Of Three, Not More
Than Two From Same Political
Party, to Direct Operations OF New
LaW-Will Be Paid $4,000 Each.

The Republican party in Virginia re-
ceiNes recognition in the proposed
workmen's compensation act. which
provides for the creation of an indus
trial commission to administer the law
and adds that mot more than two
members of said commission shall be-
long TO the same political party"
There are to he three members OF the
commission. each appointed for a term
OF six years and receiving $4,000 a
year.
Secretary Frank kruck. Of the Leg
islative Workmen's Compensation Com
mission. will. within a week or ten
days. be in a position to supply copies
of the draft that has been prepared
by this body pursuant to it's instruc-
tons from the General Assembly. In
advance of this distribution, Mr.. kruck
yesterday released a brief summary of
the act which. in its perfected form.
Will be offered to the next General AS
ScmblN for its adoption.
Subject to certain limitations every
employer and employee is assumed to
have accepted the provisions OF the
new act on the date il goes into er.
tcct, unless he has exempted himself
from its provisions by notifying the
commission TO that effect thirty days
prior to any accident resulting in in
jury or death
NO COMPENSATION FOR
EMPLOYEES MISCONDIC'r|
Inc act does not relieve any employ
or or employee from penalty for fail
ure or neglect to perform any Statu.
tory duty. No compensation is allow
cd for injury or death due to an en-.
ployee's willful misconduct. tho bur
den of proof TO nc upon him who
claims All exemption or forfeiture UNI
der this section.
Casual laborcrS. steam railway en-
ployces. farm laborers. domestic ser
wants and their employers arc exempt
cd from the application of the act,
as are also persons. firms or corpora
lions. including public service corpor-
atoms. employing less than three on
crativcs. unless the employers and en-
Dloycd Of these classes voluntarily elect
70 be bound by tho act
Employers clcctinE not to opcratc
under the act arc barred IN sui,
against them for personal injuries or
death. from making use of tho defense
tnat the employee was negligent: that
The injury WAS caused by the ncEli-
Gcnce of fellow employee: or that
inc employee had assumed tho risk OF
inc injury. M employee who elects
not to operate under the act. in AN
action FOR damages against an employ
CT accepting the compensation act
must proceed at common law. and the
employer may avail himself of the
negligence OF owscrvant and as
sumption of risk, as such defense. cs
ist at common law.
NO COMPENSATION FOU
t'itST FOURTEEN DAYS
inc act docs not interfere with
private settlements between employer
and employee so long as the amount
of compensation and the time and
manner Of payment arc in accordance
with its provisions. Rights of comucu-
station granted by the act arc given
the same priority as is allowed by law
ior unpaid wages. against The assets
OF the employer. CompcnSations Cra mt
cd under this act are made cxcmpt
! from All claims Of creditors
NO compensation is allowed for tho
hrst fourteen days of disability re-
/ SultinE from injury. For total dis
ability the employer is re1uircd to
pay To the injured employees a week
~ compensation equal to one half his
average weekly wages. but not loss
IMAM - nor more than $40 "A week In
! no cas-" may tho period covered nv
! such compensation he greater than 500
weeks. nor tho total compensation OK
| coed $4,000.
! abilities and the manner in when they
| are to be compensated. including the
| following:
| For the loss Of thumb. 30 per cent.
/ OF the average weekly wage for sixty
| weeks.
For the loss OF great too. 20 per
cont Of tho average weekly wage for
thirty weeks.
For tho loss of hand. % per cent.
of The average weekly wage for 100
| weeks
For tho loss OF an arm. 20 per cen,
of the average weekly wage for 700
weeks
For tho loss of foot. 30 per cent.
OF the average weekly wage for i75
| weeks.
For the loss OF log. 20 per cent
Of tho average weekly wage for I75
weeks
For the loss Of an eye. 30 pcr cent
of the average weekly wage for 100
weeks
The loss Of both hands. both arms
both feet. both legs. both eyes. or of
any two Of these members. is held to
constitute total disability aud must he
compensated on that basis. The 81
and $40 minimum aud maximum limits
apply to all compcnsations. whether
for partial or total disability.
For tho death Of an employee
brought about through injury, the
employer rs required to pay 10 his
dependents ~cekly amount equal TO
one-half his average weekly wage for
a period Of 500 weeks from the date of
the injury. and burial expenses not TO
| exceed 500