The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1921-01-01
COMMISSION ASKS
IMPORTANT CHANGE
in COMPENSATION
Biennial Report to Governor
Points Out Discrepancies That
Should Be Remedied.
FIX IRON WORKERS TOE
Is Worth More to Him Than
Other Craftsmen but He Does
mt Get Benefit if Hurt.

MT Get Benefit if Hurt.
A number of very important amend
ments to the Workmen's compensation
laws, including the extending of time
to two years in which to make a claim,
further Classifying injuries and correct
ing the error made in passing amend
mentS two years ago when was omitted
the raising of the maximum from $14
to $l8 week, are made in the biennial
report of the compensation commission
ers of the state to the governor this
week incidentally the commissioners
report that 81, 4,355, $50 was paid injured
workers as compensation during the
past two years. A number of employ
ers, especially the New Haven road and
American Railway Express company,
are ignoring the law, the commissioners
report, and suggest means of making
them comply. Interference with the
IN many cases are not warranted, the
commission says.
The principal recommendations made
are as follows:
Add to Section. 5352, as amended, the
following:
I'm case of an injury to any portion
of the body (referred to in sub-sections
AK inclusive) or to a phalanx or pha-
langes of the thumb, finger or toe the
commissioner may, in his discretion, in
the manner herein before provided,
award compensation for the proportion
ate loss or loss of use of the member
of the body affected by surh injury
The reason for this proposed amend
ment is that injuries frequently occur,
especially hand injuries, where the
saschedule as given is manifestly made
quate. The maj jority of fhe insurance
carriers and the majority of the self
insurers are always in such cases ready
to accept the suggestions of the COM
missioner or of the medical expert in
making adequate adjustment; but this
amendment is desirable for the purpose
of dealing with those persons who do
not readily comply with such sugges-
tions.
while we believe that the provis-
wise and while we believe the statutes
of limitation are necessary for the re-
pose of the community, we occasionally
find that some injury, whose existence
is not disputed, will remain unadjusted
for period of more than one year and
that conferences between the parties
will take place but that formal notice
of claim will not BE- given, nor will any
of the other things which are now re-
quisite in order to i've us jurisdiction
have taken place. We, therefore, sug-
gest amending Section $500 by adding
thereto as follows:
For the cause shown the commits
sioner may by an order made at any
time within two years from the date of
the injury extend the time for making
claim for compensation for period not
extending beyond two years from the
date of Said injury
Award For Actual Dependency
"Our experience has indicated that
certain amendments should be made to
the important Definition Section 5338
and we suggest the following; and to
the definition of dependents the fol-
lowing:
In the absence of dependents as
hereinbefore defined the commissioner
having jurisdiction may in his discretion
| make an award as to an actual depend
| ent to any person whom the deceased
was under legal liability to support.
The cases in which this particular
| amendment would be useful are not
many in number, but they do OCCASION
| ally arise. For example a case has
been brought to our attention where a
man sustained an injury resulting in
death and his wife is now an object
| of charity. She is not dependent be-
cause she was not living with her hus-
band, he having deserted her and she
| had not taken steps to have him COM
PEELED to contribute to her support be-
| cause he had frequently promised her
| through the daughter, a woman over
l8 and dependent at all upon her
| father, that he would make coritribu-
| tions to her support. The existence of
such condition as this is manifest1y
| opposed to sound public policy.
| ''We believe that the phrase employ
| err as defined in Section 1888 should
have added to the description as there
| given the words voluntary association.
| 'Employe' as now defined expressly
excludes member of the employers
| family dwelling in his house This pro-
| vision was not in the original act but
! was added at the suggestion of this
board at the session of 1915 We ther
/ believed that it was a wise addition tc
/ make and the phrase being in the British
i act was copied thereupon, thus bringing
| our statute more in harmony with theil
statute and making available decision.
on that section of the act heretofore
! rendered by the British courts.
/ AS IHe result OF experience we are
now of the opinion that this phrase
/ should be stricken out. Many of the
| farmers of this state take out compen
sation policies, and farming, as exper.
/ ience in this work has shown, is a haz
/ ardous occupation; some of the wors
! injuries which we see are from moderr
farm machinery. A young man living
on his fathers farm and working or
the farm, if he sustains an industria
accident, is without remedy at present
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