The Connecticut labor press., 1921-01-01
COMMISSION ASKS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Sound public policy in this day of dim
inished farm production and rising cost
of living indicates that boys should be
encouraged to stay on the farm and the
provision as it now exists is direct
encouragement.
These amendments above outlined
include all that we deem it within the
strict scope of our duty to suggest
We do however, feel that we should
call to the attention Of the Legislature
certain difficulties connected with the
due administration of the provisions of
Section 5<52. as amended, and we take
up first for consideration Schedule G
relating to eye injuries. That section
now reads: For the complete and per-
manent less Of sight in one eye or the
reduction IN one eye to one-tenth or less
of normal vision with glasses, 104
weeks.
Wide Discrepancies
This, taken in connection with other
provision of this section, makes it our
very common duty to pass upon per-
centage of loss of vision. 1t has been
gwen great study to this subject that
all amendment allowing the commission
er having Jurisdiction to take into con-
sideration the age and occupation of
the injured person would be advisable.
A young person having an I'M ured eye
can seek another occupation or adapt
himself to conditions changed by his in
jury much more readily than an older
person. An injury to the eye of per-
son whose normal occupation was with
pick and shovel might not acct his
earning capacity at all when the same
injury to an engraver or skilled tool
maker might entirely disqualify him for
his work.
"The Legislature provides that the
same compensation shall be given for
Hhe loss of great toe as for the loss
of a thumb. The former is probably
more serious in the case of a structural
iron worker than that of any other per-
son. A structural iron worker or a car
penter engaged in construction work,
can only maintain his proper balance if
he has high great toe in good order, but
the great majority of occupations are
not seriously itnerfered with by the loss
thumb is a grave handicap to any hand
worker.
ct may seem desirable to the Gen
eral Assembly, to take an initial step
towards the ultimate perfection of this
be attainab1e, by enacting some such
provision as the following:
"'The commissioner may, in his dis
cretion, consider any injury on the
basis of its proportionate part of total
disability, taking into account the age
and occupation of the injured employe;
and in so doing may use such recog-
nized standards or processes of meas
uring disability as may be available, each
one per cent. of total disability so found
to be deemed to be equivalent to S and
2-1O weeks of compensation
eff it should seem wise to the Gen
eral Assembly further to develop our
law on occupational diseases the COM
missioners suggets that portions of
Section 5341, be amended by striking
out all of that portion of the section
bearing on the subject following the
word place in the second sentence
thereof; and also striking out the dehn-
4ion of the word injury in Section 1888
and substituting therefor the following:
" The word injury as the same is
used in said chapter, shall include any
disease which shall be contracted during
and caused by the employment "