Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-03
COMPENSATION LAW
Continued from page l

1oHAllHft AftftA pAFH
s75 The board has no means Of ascnr-
tanning the amount paid by employers ,
and insurance carriers for medical and
surgical aid and assistance. but this
amount has necssaariiy been large, be-
cause In all States amounts paid for
medical and surgical aid are important
factors in increasing rates on comren-
sation insurance. The maximum Of
SIS for medical and surgical aid and
assistance IL adequate in a high per-
centage Of Industrial accidents, though,
Of course, not anywhere near enough
in cases necessitating major operations
or extended hospital treatment. Il fire.
quently happens in cases OF minor In
1uries that the time limit Of IA days
viii have expired before complete re-
covery has been made while ct the
same time. the maximum Of SI5 has
not been expended for medical and
surgical aid and assistance.
This is manifestly contrary 10 the
intent Of the act and the board would
recommend that 3103 H. Section 101, OF
the act be amended by increasing from
two weeks 20 30 days the time limit
during which the employer shall fur
nish the maximum Of S75; also provid-
ing adequate hospital service In cases
requiring the same.
The cornpensabis accidents report
Cd 20 the board during the years 1913.
1919 and 1920 resulted as follows.
Deaths. 10. permanent total disability.
-. permanent partial disability. s4,
temporary total disability. 226s. tenn
porary partial disability. 9 undeter-
mined. g. The 81 cases If permanent
partial disability are classified 40 fol-
lows f.oe1 uf one arm and ono fDOf
Iosa If ono arm, 3: one hand. ~ one
foot .. one leg, 4: one eye. %. The
Dolava act provides that for the lnss
of hand. arm. foot leg or eye. the
cofnucnsatiou. regardless ~ the earning
power If such injured efnpIoye after
auch injury, shall be 50 per centurn ~
wages during definite periods ~ time.
varying from 113 to f94 weeks wish 2
maximum 81 SIS per week
Amendment Suggested.
Tho act docs rot provide n rpccifr
schedule for partial ioeaea of +he above
named members Compensation for
sIch partial Losses is based upon tho
earning power of tho injured o-0ployo
after ztfoh injury The determi alton
~ scarul.g power under such rircIrn-
stances IF very diHrult matter fro-
quert's little more than pure Epooula-
I fior "a dependent to 4 great sxtent
fpan hnther tho Injured emplcve re-
1 turns to work for hfs former employer.
or obtains employment elsewhere.
/ Theso diflc1ltfov and uncertainties
could he entirely ohv'ated hy pro~ifing
/ compensation FOR partial Iosaes ~ mem
+ hera during definite periods N time.
4 rogardle4p ~ the earning power ~ tho
! injured ernplore after such inlury
/ The board woufd therefore recommend
fhaf fhe acf - 20 amended
The lcard believes That he enact
raert ~ safety iave wofld reduce IN
1 drs+f iaf accidents in Delaware Ana lead
to further reduction III insurance rates
Prom ifs experience the b0ard has as-
-arfained taat enrtafn classes of acci-
deata mlahf ~ avoided to A great extent
For instance. numerous injuries ~ ,hs
eye resulting in impaired vision ~ .0ss
II sight might be reduced ~ Il min
nun by ,ha enforr ed Hee ~ 4 common
pair ~ goggles ncxpenzve. easily ad-
tuRtcd ard sorn without discomfort d
trcon ver5eHce io thr workman. step
air5, ~ sharp objects causing Gus and
decorations wh.ch frequently become
infected. resulting IN loss ~ time hy
amploye might be prevented tery
largely bv kaving some one rcspons stbls
FOR keeping the floors and yards fres
from sharp objects such as broker
glass. old nails. pieces X metal dis
e4rdcd mac alne PARTS. rtc Burns .r
the feet and fnes arc Very painful anl
rio rsuve H uGcn -ost tin-e This
class 81 accidents could * greatly re-
dueed Il the workmen would -veai
iegginEs. rnouIders shoes 81 some othei
KIND ii protective footwear. The in
-F
rest rooms S considered an .a1Dortan
factor by insurance arrsers ~ Akin.
insurance rates on Industrial plants
The board r.commenda that he .egis
ators give lrle consideration ~ th'
subject II accident prevention through
the enactment of safety laws
This. report refers se a. amendme1
passed 70 the WorhrIen 8 Coupeusa
zion act TWO sears ago providing to
taxing insurance carriers and employ
ers carrying their own risk. 10 raIs'
money for paying the expenses II th
board. LAST year his Tax amounted 2
S40 457.09 which was So. 46.43 ahov
al expenses. making the board self
sustaining. Rates tor comp, u-at!o'
insurance were reduced 10 per eeul las
year and the report says there VIII p
another reduction n from 30 d s Pc
cent this year The report also con
taias am iteuized account ~ The e1
peuses for 1920.
In conclusion tAe report 81. III
board has already recommended %
your consideration amendments 10 -
compensation act which would .gs;nac
the tp-1 weeks tine l0it on weG.c4
and surgical lG. ana teu the adop-o
of aa additional specific GlSucuN,r
men. Seaedulc. Il recommends flr-he
tha, employees II any employment .
which .eSs than five persons are eus
ployed should he brought under The AL
except farm }ahorerS ma dCmeSti
servants and employers engaged !,
inter state commerce. also, TIA
state. county. and m8niCsp4, emp,oyv.
other than elective officers. should p
included.
The board submits as part II th.
report a digest of the most impcrta-
cases under the Workmen's $ Compeusa
: ton Act decided by ,he Industrial 4,
!; uideut Beard ANA by the Superit
Courr from JANUARY 1. 1918, 10 Deceu
5 ber 81 1919. inclusive. This digest wa
: edited and reported by sylvester I
. Townsend. Jr., former president Of q
: Industrial Accident Board. now II,