Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-24
-Bv Frederick. HaSkin

for nights afterward of some of the cases we
can't allow. You see there is nc appeal from
the decision of the commission and that
makes each case a great responsibility"
Mrs. Brueggeman is one of the women who
have been launched into important offices by
the recent election. Before the war, she
was woman of leisure with a home in st.
Louis-One of the women interested in CIV
les, politics and social problems. She was
an ardent worker, and when that RESPONSE
bility was over she became interested in the
approaching presidential campaign.
She became member of the Republican
national committee from Missouri and later
was on the national advisory committee of
which Taft, Root and Beveridge were mem
bers. Her appointment to Office she says came
as a surprise. But President Harding told
her that she could do the work and that she
would enjoy it. 1t seems the President was
right.
Mrs. Brueggeman explained that the gov
eminent is progressive in it's compensation
law in that all of it's civil emp4oyes benefit by
it, In the state laws men and women who
are engaged in industries are practically the
only ones who may be compensated by law
and there is a variety Of opinion in different
states as to what Industries are sufficiently
hazardous to entfle workers to compensation
if they are injured.
In the government, man who is struck
by falling object is entitled to file claim
whether he Is clerk who was struck by a
ming caDlHeC, OF q 1dDOTer nit Dy IalllnS
crate. y
The government law recognizes that there
are dangers of office work, not SO numerous
or frequent as those of machine shop, but
still worthy of consideration.
Typical Office disabilities are often among
the most difficult cases for the commission
to decide. If tuberculosis is contracted and
the patient claims that the disease developed
because of irsanitary otherwise bad condf-
lions in his office the commission must inves-
tigate both office and home conditions before
making a decision. 1t may be that the pa
tient has been careless of sanitation and of
his health at home.
A number of claims are filed with the/go
eminent for influenza cases contracted, it is
held, in draughty or badly ventilated rooms.
that there is not sufficient evidence that Office
conditions were responsible.
It is especially hard to fix'responsibility for
disease which might have been contracted at
any time during a considerable period. In
every case, every possible bit of evidence is
obtained and carefully reviewed. The COM
missioners have their staff of DOCTORS lawyers
and claim experts with whom to consult, and
doctors and lawyers in different parts of the
country work with the commission to clear
up cases Of federal employees working outside
of Washington.
In 1921, to date, the commission has paid
out 81 ,129, 900 in compensation for injuries.
This does not include lump sum compensa-
ton which is occasionally given to a MAJ too
seriously injured to return to his work. A
lump sum sometimes gives him chance to
start small business for himself. The COM
mission is kept busy. There are nearly 600 =
900 federal employees and several hundred
cases come in daily.