Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-01
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
WILL BEGIN WORK TO-DAY
Workman's Compensation Act Goes
& Into Effect With New Years
Ar Arrival.
READY TO START OPERATION

3 Members of Latest State Body and
Office Force Prepared to Open
. Books on Scheduled Timc-What
Z. New Law Is.
The workmans compensation LAW.
which was the bone OF contention III
: one of the hottest fights ever had in
the General Assembly. and which was.
ION account Of the salaries set and the
4. constitution of the commission. finally
passed over the veto of Governor
sss1went into efrec, at midnight last night.
* Everything at the offices of the In
& ldnstrial Commission. the body appoint
Y ed to administer the Law, Was IN readi-
I, ness yesterday 10 begin work this morn
ling. Not detail had been overlooked.
50 All essentials had been anticipated.
Fifty special forms had been prepared.
1.-The offices in the Presbyterian Commit
tee Building, Sixth and Main Streets.
had been cquipped. and Chairman L.
IL. Tucker and commissioners Z. g.
and {. y. Mc!iuGh were ready Ia.
- hear the FIRST compla int;
81 In fact. the force. consisting of the
x three commiss Ioners a e. Smith. chief
- clerk; o. Il. Watson. assistant and
!. the stenoGraphcrs Misses Heller. Lee
n and Bowers and Mrs. Robinson were
"a at their desks. Representatives of the
- independent Insurance companies IL
- censed TO take care of the workman's
!, marked that this was the first Int
- stance of an industrial commission be-
: ing prepared to begin work on the day
!. set for the law becoming effective.
3 BILL PASSED OVER VETO
* or GOVERNOR DAVIS
4. Governor Davis wanted this law 10
4 be administered by an cN-otiicio com
+ mission on account of the economy in
yyolved, The legislature was badly
Z. divided as 10 granting this compro-
:, mise Finally the bill was passed over
! The Governors veto during the extra
:, session OF three days. ana as passed
in - a
~ sion.
!. The bin died on the calendar. but
l. when the Assembly was compelled to
:, return and prune the famous appro-
I, priation bill 10y Sl.000.0O0 to meet the
]. rec9nmenda tons OF the Governor. who
On SAID the state should not cXpcnd more
- money than its income. the members
= we're in mood TO eNhume the compcn-
r satioh hill and pass 1t over the cxecu-
ives diSapprovul
The primary purpose Of the work
mans compensation law is TO sccur.
10 injured employees. or their depend
: ents certain and definite compcusn.
non Tor injury resulting from the
hazards OF industries. The payment or
:. me damage. so 10 speak is placed on
e. me industry so IL can distribute tn. an
/ proXimate cost of the comprnsat ton
- over Inc cost of the articles and there
nE iorce the consumers to pay for the
injuries 10 employees as Il part or the
cost OF production. This will relieve
/. employers and employees and courts OF
ID, many suits based on causes of NO
6, ton and involving the doctrines OF rs
4 SUMPTION OF risk. contributors neg
|, nssnce; fellow servants negligence
.ts ana other common and statutory law
I. computations so frequently resulting
in distorted rcckonings, it is thought
~ ne result is that the compensation is
e nNed Tor specific injuries. even TO
= finger joints
Il ALL EMPLOYERS EXCr:IT
e. RAILROADS AFFECTED
me Virginia act applies to every
empioye ,,, .eNcepi common carriers
lIsa
MS service eleven or more emniovccs
y except farm iaborcrs and domestic
s sph mrs, The state. municipalities
!, are Included i'll this act automaticailv
Z r,egardiess OF the number Of employees
" An other employers may elect Ia COM,
4; under the provisions or the law
i, Employers may elect To reject inc
!; provisions OF the law. but If they do
siot assumption of risk. contributory
stneslisence and negligence OF fellow
servants, sc which virtually forces them
70 accept the compensation law
- The employee may also rci,r, tho
sIotectlon OF this act. but in so doing
ne assumes the common law burdens
'.tnc common law dcfcnscs 10 ms o,n
ployer. But after rejection OF the com
s sSSeensa,ion law either may later change
e-sons. us proVi-
=, An Independent insurance bureau has
n neen formed here, after :. conferences
ance Commissioner Joseph Button 70
samn care OF the compensation insur-
.a .,ar IN inc state The act provides thar
s eNeFE employer under il shall s.curr /
f!pe payment Of the compensation "a
the injured employee by insurjnn -,
h uu;n.n licensed 10 do COMPENSATION
: BUSINESS IN th!s-sStatc or by Satisfyiu..
me Industrial Eo!n mission with - smh
st!tuic system or bond
ENPE.CT 5000 CONCERNS
-, TO COME UNDER ACT
nave b, ne, ms Of the commission
,,,a ma" me State combcd for indus
\ 1 1ries to take advantage of The nr,
c im1s e mH about 5000 concerns 10
( Gays after January / every cm,inr.ir
accepting the provisions OF ihc ac, /
fln =, directiy or through his insurer.
i ,n , compliance with the law Failure
Z 90 so renders him subject To :, unc
X ,e JI0n,ipesns@aiion. which is always lin
(! l.eu 10 $1,000 is based upon rh,: j., ii,,,
SGausrd by accident arising ON ,r 49,,
\ ~, llIe course of employment /, :;
aff'oWed Tor death only when the dco,i
IAN INJURY. 1t is not olioiyn,i r. su'h
fih. Naent where this results from
NO compensation is allowed for -
JuI! or death due to an cmnIn,.o -
Wlilui misconduct. including i,i, ~.
'lonal sell inflicted injury jnio 'mtth-
Tor wi!lful failure or rafns ,n'' o., NiGa'i"n
! isaiety a,ppliance or TO perform , "I 49,, u
procured by statute "uty
SSsA"otNI OF tDNpENSArIo\
:. RI - HASED ON W ACES
nc amount Of compensation is 40
itspehdent upon the cinpIoyrn'S , :. &c
,:in an cases Of disability 10 ro h.S.
,Hi The average weekly w;,rns rpr tent
: ,on u, n"FE Ed, lengths OF Tine.
trnJur! $40 week being tI, ne
the The e mmu 80 inc nim'mnn. la addition.
1 n,I, surgical and hosp!taI i,.a,S
and mo, 10. dn'rlE days after the in I,Irv
q In ny az ms option, do 50 ionc2r
ann ~ cases OF total disability ,,o
!, may Continue 'fH dr .6n mentioned
Il n mos aseresate more ,han 5000 U' must
;pensation i XIII atSabiiity Tie con-
I ~ mus, TeSnliinE from Tie injuT% bu IN
Z ,inue longer than 900 49, SN nor con I
4 .sp en}are" oeimmnloyees viii receive 10,
iWages between the inini,n,,. weekly
.number H, of roS Of SO for tho foIiowIimngg
x; bir nuinD' sixty weeks: first, c,
|. , III, hNe weeks second NM, !.hpet.
u,