Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-14
men
GET INCREASE
BY STATE LAW
important Amendments Ad-
apted to Workmen's CON-
pensation Act; 21-Day
Limit Is Struck Out.

~ W. SSsN
During the closing hours of the
last session of the legislature num-
Der of important amendments to the
workmen's compensation law were
adopted, first and foremost of which
was the one raising the maximum
amount of compensation to which
an injured worker is entitled from
Si2 to SIS week. This S. raise
does not seem very large in itself,
but when one considers that over
10000 accidents were reported to
the commits sioner in the last two
years, the aggregate amount OF
money involved fattens the payroll
of the ripples considerably.
In the old law the insurance COM
pany was liable for doctor bills
Oh during the first three weeks OF
disability. This was also amended
by striking out the 2l-day limit, so
that when the new law becomes ef-
fective next Friday, injured work
ers will not be called upon to pay
a part Of their bill for medical treat
ment, as often happens at present.
Two hundred dollars is the maxi
mum for this treatment, with no
time limit.
In addition to the advance of S.
a week. the law makes the following
increases in specific injuries:
Loss of hand, Increased from $50
weeks to Us weeks.
Loss of arm, increased from 200
weeks to rs weeks.
Loss of foot, increased from 200
weeks to 225 weeks.
Loss of foot, increased from LIS
weeks to $50 weeks.
Loss of leg, increased from us
weeks to 215 weeks.
Loss of eye, increased from 100
weeks to IFS weeks.
Increase funeral benefit, from 500
to $3.50.
Loss Of Hearing.
A new item in the law provides
compensation for so weeks for loss
of hearing in one ear, and double
that amount for loss of hearing in
both ears.
When dispute arises as to the
merits of a claim for compensat
the commi sioner hears the evidence
and makes an award. In the past
frequently the insurance companies
have appealed to the district court
from these awards and often they
have carried these appeals to the
supreme court, thus forcing the in
jured person at his own expense
to secure the services of lawyer.
Under the new law, if the insurance
company appeals from the COM
missioner's award, and no change is
made in his decision by the district
court, then the company must pay
the fee of injured wofkmen's lawyer.
Heretofore when awards were
made by the commissioner, lawyers
ior the insurance companies would
serve Notice Of Intention to Ap-
peal" and because the old law did
not provide a time limit in which
to perfect the appeal, the injured
workman was required to Await
His Majestys Pleasure" in an ag-
gravating number of cases. The new
Jaw provides that the petition on ap-
peal must be filed in the district
court within seven days from the
date of the award, thus putting an
end to that monkey business"
Taken all i'll all, Compensation
Commissioner F. A. Kennedy, after
a careful study of the laws of other
states, is of the opinion that Nebras-
ka will now have one of the best
workmen's compensation laws i'll
the United States. This fact reflects
credit upon the state when it is
taken into consideration that Ne
braska is not primarily big manu-
featuring state ard that the law is
practically a new venture here (be-
ing effective since 1915 only.)
Opinion Of Kennedy.
Mr.. Kennedy believes there are
three factors in connection with the
administration of this law that have
resulted in cheating injured workers
in many instances, They are:
Lack of knowledge of the en-
plOyeS OF even lIC SAlotCHlC VI SuIl
a law.
2-Thoughtlessness of employers
who pay for this protection for
their employees. and then forget it.
3-Negligence of the compensa-
ton commission in not having made
an effort to acquaint the citizens of
the state with the benefits of the
law.
The commission is attempting to
remedy these defects as best it can
through publicity in the press, ad-
vertising campaigns in the work
shops and personal requests for the
cooperation of those interested,
and believes it is making consider
able progress along this line.
The commission maintains
branch office at the court house in
Omaha, where information and lit
erature can be had. The main office
is in the state house at Lincoln.