The labor standard., 1919-03-01
UNlsT WOULD IMPROVE WORKMEN'S
 COMPENSATION LAW
Attorneys for Manufacturers Oppose as Usual-That's What They Are Paid FOr-Occupa- tiOnaI Diseases Included

tional Diseases Included
 HARTFORD-A hearing on tn.
 proposed amendments to the work ingmen's compensation law was helt before the Judiciary Committee of tn. Legislature in the State House, Thurs day, February 27. Various amend ments were proposed by both the Com pensation Commissioners and the Con necticut Federation of Labor. Mir Danaher of Meriden, representing the Federation, spoke in favor of the proposed changes, saying the Fedora. tion heartily endorsed every amend. ment.
 Goodhart Opposes
 He was followed by MT. Goodhart of New Haven, counsel for the manu- facturers, who was, of course, against all proposed changes, particularly the one concerning occupational diseases which he claimed were impossible of definition; and the one increasing the weekly compensation from one-half the employees average weekly earn l ings to two-thirds the average weekly earnings, and giving an injured em- ployee who is injured severely enough to be unable to work, for more than seven days compensation from the first day, and making the maximum weekly compensation eighteen dollars instead of fourteen dollars per week, as it is at present.
 Wells Also Kicks
 MT. Wells of Hartford, also an at torney for the manufacturers, was, of course, also against all the pro- posed changes, as was also Mir. Dress CT, who was representing the Ameri- can Steel and Wire Company; also Mir. Howell Cheney. The most of the defense was carried on by MT. Dana her. Mir. Cheney said he would favor the amendment in regard to occupa- tional diseases, provided he might be permitted to still further amend the amendment so that it would not in- clude contagious diseases, which he was permitted to do, so that it looks as though the Judiciary Committee might report favorably on this amend ment.
 IOmmlIIee May hec0mmenQ increase
 From $14 to sfS
 So much opposition aro5az in regard to the proposal to pay compensation from the first day, in the event of "a man being laid up over seven days, that the committee will probably re- port unfavorab1y on this part of the second of these amendments ]; however, the proposal to increase the weekly compensation from fourteen dollars to eighteen dollars maximum seems, along with the other recommended amendments of the commissioners, may possibly be reported favorably.
 A Solution Offered
 The probable outcome of these amendments taken in connection with the action of the Committee of the Legislature on Railroads, which one day last week reported unfavorably House Bill 416, an act concerning the operation of street cars in regard to crews, which is right in line with the national full crew law; House Bill vestibules of closed cars, and House Bill 342, an act designating parts of street cars on which passengers may not ride; while time is granted the Putnam and Rhode Island Company in which to organize; the time for orr ganizing the Danielson and Williman- tic Street Railway Company is ex- tended, and amending the charter of the Bristol and Milldale Tramway Company were all reported favorably, would indicate to any voter, who has his own welfare at heart, that it is now time to stop sending manufactur CTS and their representatives to both the State House and the National Con- gress to make laws which will be fair to the working men of this country. The solution of this difficulty is of fered you, MT. Working Man, in the new American Labor party.