Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-28
AMENDMENTS ~ LEdlsLATuRE
TEND TO MAKE STATUTE MORE
WORKABLE.
CHANGES BENEFICIAL TO
WORKERS IN THE MAIN
Maximum Rats Increased 81 Per Week
liss Of Hearing Added 10 Disabil-
itiss-Tsrm Of Required HopitaI Ser
vice Doubled 70 Four Weeks - Cas-.
val Employment Eliminated.
Special TO Times Republican.

HSSSSAoA ~ AuHeS-aepuDllcan.
Des Moines, April 2s-Iowa's work
mems compensation act was material
" Strengthened thru amendments pas
sed BY the last legislature in the opin-
lon OF state officials who have to do
with the Administration of the law. The
amendments enacted were nearly all
recommended blythe Industrial COM
missioner A. B. Funk, and developed
out Of experience OF the service in this
and other jurisdictions, The bill carry
ing these amendments has the unique
distinction Of having passed both hous-
es by unanimous vote. The more i'm
portant changes in the law are the
following:
The minimum rate of compensation
per week is increased from s. to Sc,
except In cases where the workman
receives less than the minimum. In
such cases he IL entitled to compensa-
ton equaling his earnings. Maximum
compensation is Increased from So to
SIS. a week.
The law ct present provides for a two
weeks waiting period after the accident
during which time no compensation is
due. The amendment provides that
these two weeks during which payment
- withheld shall be made up in the
9Th. 9Th and 7th weeks, providing dis
ability shall continue so long or long
or.
Employers are required to furnish
medical and hospital service for four
weeks instead Of two weeks as here
stOfore.
Compensation being paid to the wild
ow or the deceased workman leaving
no children shall cease upon her re-.
marriage.
Loss OF hearing is added to the list
OF scheduled disabilities. For the loss
Of a single ear workman is to re-
ceive fifty weeks compensation and for
the total loss Of hearing $50 weeks is
the payment required.
Casual Employment Eliminated.
1t will be understood that under the
Iowa law weekly payment is so per
cent Of the average weekly wages at the
time Of the injury.
Casual aulDloyment better known as
odd Jobs. = taken from the compen-
sable list.
AAsS AAOAAkOA VI opPCdA kIOIlI luS5 COIH-
pensation Jurisdiction to the district
court Is made more definite and COM
prehensive. Arbitration committees and
the industrial commissioner are re-
leased from the strict application Of the
rules OF evidence prevailing in the dis
frict court
All hearings IN review are hence
forth to be at the capitol. Arbitrations
as heretofore are to be held near the
place Of the accident.
Under the new enactment lump sum
settlement between employers and
workmen cannot be made in the dis
trict court az hitherto without the ap-
pfoval Of the Iowa industrial commits
sioner.
Employers not carrying insurance
arc required to keep posted conspic-
uously q notice to employees that they
have failed to inquire their liability to
their workmen and they are held in
damages as though they had legally
exercised their right to reject the COM
pensatson law.
The Iowa industrial commissioner is
authorized to appoint deputy COM
missioner with full official powers. The
latter provision takes effect upon the
sDublication Of the law. All other am
endments viii be in force from and
after July I, 1917.
Industrial Commissioner A. B. Funk
declares that these amendments are,
In main. TO advantage OF the worlmen.
They received the endorsement before
legislative action of Joint committee
Of employers and workmen.
"A separate act was passed providing
for the payment Of compensation
claims against the state out Of the
general fund.