The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-11
MILLIONS SAVED
OHIO EMPL LOVERS
BY STATE FUND
This Feature of Workmen s
Compensation Law Cited
By Labor AS Model.

New York City, Sept. Ito Ohio
employers at least s15.ooo,ooo has
been saved through the exclusive
state fund feature of the compulsory
Workmen's compensation law, accord
ing to Miles M. Dawson, consulting
actuary of New York. Mr.. Dawson
was one of several actuaries selected
by the Ohio legislature and state Of
nclals to make an audit of the fund.
The salient features and results of
this law, considered one of the out
standing achievements of James M
Cox's three terms as Governor of
ONO, are enumerated in an, account
of his public accord contained in the
Democratic Campaign Textbook soon
to be issued from the national head
quarters, Grand Central Palace, New
York City. Among the many claims
made for this piece of legislation is
that 1t is the first of its kind in the
country land that its excellence won
for it the commentator last June of
the American Federation of Labor in
the convention at Montreal as a mod
ell for all states to follow.
The system is administered by a
commission of three members, one
representing employers, another la
Dor, and the third the public. The
law requires that all employers of
five or more persons must insure
their employees, either paying pre-
miums into the State fund, or filing
a bond guaranteeing payment direct
to the injured employe of any award
the industrial commission of the
State may fix. OF the %, 800 employ
ers carried as risks, only 500 carry
their own insurance, subject to settle
ment of claims by the commission.
100000 Claims Allowed.
Since the law became operative
more than 100000 claims have been
allowed, including 1000 death awar DIS
with the number of workmen in
sured approximating 100000. In
that time s46,0O0,0OO has been paid
out in awards to workmen Or their
dependents and of the remainder
about $19,o00,0O0 is obligated and
being paid out in weekly inStaIlments
to beneficiarieS.
When circumstances demand,
awards are paid in lump sums. In
thousands of cases this has enabled
beneficiaries to buy homes, or pay off
mortgages, and many injured work
men incapacitated for their former
occupations have thus received a
start in a new business.
From time to time the awards
have been increased, likewise the
sum allowed for medical expenses.
Death awards are now $1,000. Medi-
cal expenses originally were limited
to $500 in any one case, but this
Aas been modified until now the
most competent medical and surgical
service is available to an injured
workman at the expense of the state,
as long as it is required
| Before the law became operative
$4,000 personal injury suits were
filed each year in Ohio and they
cIuttered the courts. Notwithstand-
ing this statistics show that only six
out of every one hundred injured
| workmen ever got any compensa-
ton. This changed condition has
done much to still the clamor for
judicial recall.
1t is asserted that administration
of law cost only per cent of the
amount paid in premiums as shown
on the report of expert accountants
This is said to be the lowest Of any
fund in the world.
Dying, Crawls to Protection.
How the law is regarded by the
workmen is illustrated by an incident
| which occurred recently. A workman
employed in a manufacturing con-
Germ whose plant crossed the Ohio
State line into another State which
tally injured in that part of the plant
which was outside the Ohio State
line.
The injured man was employed in
a lowly capacity and was uneducated
and ignorant, but when he realized
the seriousness of his hurt he began
to crawl slowly and painfully toward
the Ohio line. Although every move
ment of his body meant agony to
him he did not cease until he had
reached the Ohio side.
When he had crossed the line, he
smiled up at his fellow workers and
explained to them that now he could
die in peace. He felt that he had
reached a place where the law took
account of what was due his family
for the injuries which would deprive
them of the services of their bread
winner.