Evening star., 1918-01-13
Certain provisions of workmen's COM
pensation laws are more susceptible of
C h ange
State Legislation for and re-
Workmen's Compensation. : b -, n

State Legislation for and re-
Workmen's Compensation. : b = -, n
others, it is said by experts of the De-
partment of Labor, who for years have
been studying the compensation prob
lem. The various acts and the partial
disability schedules. for example. have
undergone very little change since their
period, and particularly the require
ments as to. medical service. is in a
constant state of fux. Compensation
commissioners are not always familiar
suits of compensation laws in other
states. This unfamiliarity, together
with the human proneness to over
value those things to which one has
been accustomed, has led many of the
commissions not only to prefer their
own type of law, but to consider it
superior to all others
1t is stated by the officials of the de-
partment that the provisions as to
medical service have undergone greater
change than any other feature of the
workmen's compensation laws. Six
teen states have increased the medical
service originally provided, either as
to maximum amounts or length of time
during which such medical service is
to be furnished. In California, Con-
necticut and Porto Rico the maximum
limit has been abolished entirely. and
employers must provide medical at
tendance as long as reasonably neces-
sary Most of these Increases were
provided for by laws passed during the
past year. State legislatures and COM
pensation commissions seem, the eX-
perts say. at last to realize the fact
that adequate medical and hospital
service is absolutely essential for the
complete economic rehabilitation of in
jured workmen. There is also a tend
ency toward closer state supervision
over the quality of medical service
states have authorized compensation
commissions to approve or supervise
hospitals and benefit funds maintained
by employers. 1t is said that there is
also a trend toward allowing the in
jured employe to select his own physi-
clan. For the first time in the history
of the compensation legislation in this
country employees were specifically
given this right last year. four states
amending their laws to that effect. in
Guiding Illinois. Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island and Washington
In the opinion of the federal experts
who have made a study of compensa-
tion laws all over the country, one re-
grettable fact in connection with the
enactment of this legislation is the dis
inclination of most states to be guided by
the experience developed under the
laws of other states. The type Of law.
administrative system, etc, usually
adopted by state is determined gem
orally by two factors-contiguity and
the economic and political progressive
ness of the states.
1t is pointed out by the departmental
officials that an examination of the five
state compensation laws passed in 1917
shows that these two factors were most
influential in determining the type of
law enacted. The far western states
especially have been inclined to pat
tern their laws after those adopted by
contiguous states, due in part, it is
said. to the fact that owing to the
great distances Investigating commits
sions and others responsible for the en-
actment OF the laws have found it in
expedient to acuuaint themselves with
the experience of the eastern states by
personal investigation. Eventually.
the experts believe, all of the states
will adopt those compensation laws
which shall have been proved to be
best, but apparently it is necessary for
each state to attain this through its
own experience.