The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-01-14

When an employer is informed Of f an accident he must immediately fur nish proper medical care. If he does not the enploye may hire his own physician and the employer pays the bills. If the employe dces not accept the services of the physician proffer- ed by the employer but prefers his own, he must pay the bill himself.
 All employers of labor of five or more come under the provisions of the Compensation Act. unless they formally refuse to accept it. serving notice on the employees and filing it with the commissioners Employers of less than five are not subject in any way to the provisions of the acu, bu.. if they desire may accept it
 '9AH employers must satisfy the commissioner of his financial ability to pay compensation directly to in jured employees, filing acceptable se- curity for these payments with the insurance commissioner or by taking out a compensation policy with an insurance company
 s'+Compensation commences on the eighth day of incapacity. and no compensation is allowed for first week unless the employe is incapaci- tated for more than four weeks. The commissioner may direct the com mutation in whole or in part of the weekly compensation into a. lump sum Four per cent. discount Is all | lowed on this communication. "Any award or voluntary agree mcnt may be modified upon request 1 if changed conditions of fact have l arisen.
 Attorneys take no part in the pro- 1 ceedings, and are not required ex- cept in technical and doubtful cases. | Their fees are subject to approval by l the com missioner.
 l Medical and hospital charges are also subject to approval and shall be limited to such charges for similar | trea tment, if such treatment were to be paid for by the injured person. | .'There are three defenses under our Compensation Act-that the acei- l dent did not arise out of and i'll the 1 course Of claimants employment, tha | it was a result of serious and wilfu
 misconduct, or caused by his .intoxi | cation.
 | NtAn injury is construed to include any disease which is due to causes pc l culiar to the occupation, and not of g | contagious, communicable or menta
 nature.
 ..It is sometimes difficult for mar with a physical defect to get em- ployment by reason of the undue
 hazard it imposes upon the employer It is therefore permissible to waive II writing any rights to compensation
 for an injury directly due to sucf physical defect This waiver mus
 be approved by the commissioner.
 "Where a minor under the age o1 IS is entitled to compensa tion for in capacity for a period of 52 weeks ol more or is entitled to specific com | pensation for the loss of or loss O.
 use of any member of the body, tht commissioner may add 50 per cent to his average wage Of course, thl:
 is only done where the minor is earn ing what might be consid cred a smal
 and inadequate wage.
 We are proud in Connecticut O
 the way the courts have interpreted
 the various provisions of the Act ant
 on appea Is have decided on the merit
 of the case and avoided all technical
 ities where possible. In a number O
 cases; the courts have even gone fur
 ther than the commissioners in a, pro
 gressive, broadminded Interpretation
 of the law