The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-01-17
WORKMEN'S COMPEN-
SATI0N LAW


the Fiftieth General Assembly which
convened Wednesday of this week, is
one providing a workmen's compensa.
ton, law, drafted and espoused by the
Missouri State Federation of Labor
announces a Bureau of Labor Stats
tics bulletin given publicity today by
Commissioner William H. Lewis.
According to the present program
Senators Michael Kinney and Joseph
H. Brogan of st. Louis City, Senator
Mark MaGruder of Sedalia, and A. E.
L. Gardner of st. Louis county, will
present the measure in the upper body
and Representative William Turbett
of Cole county, E. L. Hackett of Pettis
county, Jones H. Parker of St. Louis
City and Thos. A. Shepard of Kansas
City, in the House.
The State Federation of Labor will
be represented at Jefferson City all
through the session by a Legislative
Committee consisting of the presi-
dent of that organization, r. T.
Wood of Springfield, Hugh S. O'Neil,
the Building Trades Council and the
Electrical Workers Union of Kansas
City, and Andrew Smart of Richmond,
Mo-, representing United Mine Work
ers' District No. rs of Missouri. men
who will urge the passage of this
workmen's compensation measure on
the ground that it represents the wish
es of more than 100000 organized
toiling men and women of the State;
and who will otherwise look after the
general welfare of all unionized wage
earners of Missouri. In addition, Or
ganized labor will have in attendance
at decisive moments to further this
important measure, workmen's COM
pensation campaign committee, con-
sisting, besides the three already mem
toned, of former State Senator Arrow
Philips of st. Louis, retained as legal
adviser, ex-State Senator Maurice ].
Cassidy, Joseph +. Woracek, Daniel
j. Murphy, t. j. Callahan, o. E. Jen-
nings, E. W. Kummings, Charles J.
Lammert and Geo. R. Patterson, all
prominent organized labor leaders.
The workmen's compensation meas
ure of organized labor provides for
State Insurance, payable out of fund
created through the cost of protec-
ton paid in by the employers of the
State, and out of which special reve-
nue. will also come all expenses of ad-
mlnisterlng and enforcing the act. A
commission, OF three members, ap-
pointed by the Governor, will admin
lister the law. Under the provisions
of the bill So week is the minimum
amount paid injured workers, and
tWo-thirds of an average daily wages
the maximum. There is no waiting
period, the compensation being pay
able from and including the first day
the injury was sustained. For per-
manent total disability, such as the
loss of both eyes, or both hands, the
payment is at the rate of two-thirds
OF an average daily wages through
life. For temporary total disability
the &c 2-3 per cent wages payment
continues until the injured worker can
return to work, but no longer than
400 weeks, and for temporary partial
disability, the same amount is provid-
ed for until work can be resumed.
The suggested law is elective and
not compulsory. Employer and en-
ployees are presumed to have elected
to accept it unless they file written re-
lection with the Commission. Employ
ers of less than five persons are ex-
empt, unless the workers are engaged
in the building trades, transportation
and commerce pursuits, or in fac
tories or workshops using power-driv-
en- machinery. 1t does not apply to
farm labor, domestic servants, casual
workers, or outworkers, in their own
homes. Exempted employees can Sc
cure the benefits of the law by both
sides filing with the Commission their
acceptance of all its provisions. Med
ical aid for the first eight weeks, not
to exceed 5000, allowed and, in excep-
tional cases, the Commission can ex-
tend this time limit.
In case of death of the worker. bur-
ial expenses, not exceeding 5000, are
allowed, and to dependents is paid
two-thirds of average daily wages of
the unfortunate for 800 weeks, to be
committed and payable Immediately
in one total sum. Other provisions are
of minor Importance.
A pamphlet constituting advance in
formation from the 1919 Red Book of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pre-
pared by Supervisor of Statistics A.
t. Edmonston, ready for distribution
after the middle of January, gives the
State Federation of Labor bill in full;
contains a complete history of the
movement to obtain such legislation
for Missouri, dated back to 1909; par
ticularizes the drafting of the pro
posed measure, and deliberately COM
pares workmen's compensation laws
as they existed in 40 States, terri
tories, and insular possessions of the
United States up to the close of 1918.
This publication carries chapters on:
tendencies of workmen's compensa-
tion legislation; compensation and in
surance systems, scope, waiting peri
cd and compensation scales; medi-
cal service and surgical aid; admins
tration and sectional variations; haz-
ardous employment; numerical ex-
cmptions, such as agricultural and do
mestic pursuits, and employment not
for gain; how public employees and
casual labor are affected; how cleo
ton is made, and abrogation of de-
Tense; suits for damages; special con-
tracts and burden of costs; State SUI
pervision over insurance, and regula-
ton of rates; injuries covered and
nar cent of xva unc naid. daotb bano