Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-07
WHY NOT STATE INSURANCE.

Radical remedies to solve the problem OF the man
permanently crippled in industry advocated by Carl
Hookstadt article in the December number of the
Monthly Labor Review by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States Department of Labor
His proposals
The compensation scale of benefits be
terialy increased to approximate the loss in earn
ing capacity.
Adequate medical and surgical treatment
be furnished by the state.
Vocational schools closely correlated to rehabili~
tation hospitals.
unemployment at suitable jobs and fair
wages
Establishment of exclusive state
fund or an employers mutual association to be sub
stituted for competitive casualty companies.
Establishment of central authority. presera-
bly, of an industrial accident commission to admins
ter and supervise the entire rehabilitation pro-
cess.
Interesting figures brought by the several in
designations show that Massachusetts,, the average
period of total disability for the loss of hand or arm
is 1874 months while California it is 127 months. For
the loss of foot leg in Massachusetts, 24S months
are lost while 1874 California for the
accident.
1.-TWO important facts stand out" writes Mr. Hook
"One the greater severity of the foot and leg
injuries those of the hand and and the other
the unexpected long period of disability all One
third the workers losing hand foot disabled
for IS months The average length of total dis
ability for the lesser injuries is Loss of as months
thumb "a months; finger 81 months; or
fingers, 3S months"
The seriousness of the disability increases with the
age of the workman the investigations conducted by Mr.
Hooksadt prove. The average total disability for those
under As years and those As years follows
Loss of limb under IS years. 1922 months; men
As years 2O3 months; loss Of eye under
45, A months As over SIS months; loss of
thumb Al and 46 months respectively finger, 2
and 81 months; two fingers, ga and 81 monts.
About one-third of the persons sustaining major
injury return to the employer" writes Mr. Hook
sadt land about one-fourth reenter the same occupa-
ton, while in the of minor injuries threefourth
return to the employer and two-hirds follow the
occupation"
Inability speak English in many cases lessons the
opportunity for unemployment although it is posi-
indefinite data In number reported by the in
dustrial accident board and by insurance companies
IN Massachusetts this factor had determining inhu
ence. Ability to understand speak English may not
be of vital importance a machine tender in cotton
mill but it is essential watchmen messengers and
elevator is occupations OF this charac-
ter that most of the injured employees fill after their
injury
Summarizing the above conclusions declares Mr.
Hookstadt lit may that reemployability of Grip
pied industrial workers directly with degree of
occupatona skill and ability to speak English and in
versey with the severity of the injury and the age of the
employee
1.-THE period of total disability resulting from the
injury is unnecessarily long Only about one-third of
the seriously crippled return to the same EN-
poyer and relatively few reenter same occupation
The compensation benefits inadequate and practica
~ restraining has been done critical ANALYSIS of
several contrbuory shows that nearly all Of
these have their origin are closely related
to- the of central responsible supervising
authority. The welfare of crippled men has been
nobodys business Closely with this rrespon
sbiIity lack of opportunity The very fact that
men are crippled has closed the door of opportunity
against them. They are given a chance to show
their worth ability"