Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-31
COMPENSATION MEASURE
MEETS WITH OPPOSITION
Committees Hear Argument ON Re-
port OF Goodrich Com
mission.
MANY AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
Counsel for Railroads and Coal
Mines Oppose Scalc-Rcprescnta
tives of Railway Employees Also
Object to Bill.

/ pNSS vi F'iuptOSecS ALSO
Object to Bill
Argument as TO the merits of the
proposed workman's compensation act
began yesterday afternoon before the
Senate and House Committees on Courts
of Justice in joint session in the hall OF
the House of Delegates. II was not
completed when the committees arose
at $50. and will he resumed when the
session continues this afternoon.
The hearing was attracted TO Rich
mond largo number Of employers
who either want the bill amended or
rejected. With them have come coun-
sci for the big railroad. coal and other
corporations. Representatives of rail-
road employees also are lighting tho
measure.
The bill. as II stands, was drafted
- commission appointed by the 1916
Legislature. c. UConor Goolrick.
chairman: c. L. Michael. II. NJ. Cousins.
:. II. Perry. T. L. Roberts, Lee Long.
and Frank kruck, secretary. formed
this commission The bill is modelled
rom the mos, acceptable of similar
avs now In effect In thirty States OF
he Union. All members OF the COM
mission except Mr.. Cousins are under
TODD TO have concurrcd In the report
nd recommendations.
COUSINS OUTLINES
OBJECTIONS TO BILL
Mr.. Cousins states his objections as
follows:
Il am of tho opinion that to include
employees of steam railways In 4
workmen's compensation law would he
In conflict with the Constitution of
Virginia, because it would deprive them
o: their rights Of liability as Euaran-
tted by the Constitution.
Section ~ would also repeal the La
bility laws enacted In 1912 and 1916,
and the other liability laws enacted for
the benefit and protection Of railroad
employees.
~ do not concur In the rates of COM
pcnsatIon: that is, / do not favor the
maximum rates. as consider them
very unfair to employees earning 800
per month and upwards.
II am in favor Of exclusive state in
surance."
The bill provides schedule upon
which workmen injured while attend
Ing duties for which they are employed
shall be paid This does not include
casual employees, steam railway EN-
rloyecs actually In interstate and intra-
state commerce. farm laborers and do.
nestle servants. nor to employers or
such persons, nor to any persons. firm
or private corporation. including any
public service corporation that has In
service less than three operatives reEu-
larly in the same business within the
state; unless such employees and en-
ployers voluntarily elect" TO bind them
selves by the act.
SCHEDULE or COMPENsATIoN
PROVIDED BIZ THE BILL
The schedule of compensat.ons fol-
lows:
FOR the loss OF thumb. nifty per
~f I,A
during sixty weeks.
For the loss of finger, first. com
monty called the index finger. NIFTY per
centum of the average weekly wages
during thirty-flve weeks.
I'or the loss Of second finger. fifty
per centum of average weekly wages
during thirty weeks.
For the loss of third finger, hftY
per centum or average weekly wages
during twenty weeks.
For the loss Of a fourth finger, COM
monty called the little finger. fifty per
centum OF average weekly wages dur
ing fifteen weeks
The loss OF the first phalange of the
thumb or any finger shall be consid-
cred to be equal TO the loss OF one
half of such thumb or finger, and the
compensation shall be for one-half OF
the periods of time above specified.
The loss OF more than one phalange
shall be considered the loss of the on
tire finger or thumb: provided, how
ever, that in no case shall the amount
received for more than ono finger ex-
coed the amount provided in this sched
uie for the loss OF hand.
For the loss OF u great toe. fifty per
centum OF the average weekly wages
during thirty weeks.
For the loss OF one OF the toes other
than a great toe. fifty per centum of
average weekly wages during ten
weeks.
The loss of the first phaiansc OF any
toe shalt be considered to be equal to
loss OF one-haif of such toe. and the
compensation shall be for one-half OF
the periods of time above specified
The loss of more than one phalange
shall he considered as the loss of the
entire toe.
For the loss of hand. lifty per cen
tum OF the average weekly wages dur
ing $50 weeks.
For the loss OF an arm. fifty per
centum of average weekly wages dur
inG 200 weeks.
For the loss of foot ffty per cen
tum OF average weekly wages during
225 weeks.
For the loss OF leg. htsy per CEN
tum of average weekly wages during
IFS weeks.
For the loss of an eye. fifty per CEN
tum or the average weekly wages dur
The loss OF both hands. or both
arms. or both feet. or both legs. or
both eyes, or any two thereof, shall
constitute total and permanent inca
pacity.
CREATES THREE J0BsA
s4,O0O PER YEAR EACH
The bill further provides that where
the incapacity for work resulting from
the injury is total. the employer shall
pay, or cause to be paid. as hereinafter
provided. to the injured employed dur
ing such total incapacity weekly
compensation equal to one-haIf his
weekly wages, but not more than $40
nor less than IS a week; and in no
case shall the period covered by such
compensation exceed $4,000.
The creation of the Industrial Com
mission of Virginia is also provided for.
rus commission would enforce the
compensation law. 1t would comprise
ahree members. 10 serve six years each.
Their salaries would be $4,000 pcr wear