The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-24


 lost. To conflne relief only to cases in which disability is based upon injury due to accident--accident re- duced to specific Localized incident is 10 reduce much human energy to mere human junk without provi- sion for any measure of salvage. This is positively monstrous and in utter abandonment of the beneficent spirit of workmen's compensation
 The law should provide for walt ing period not in excess of one week, except perhaps. in case of expedient similar to that we adopt in Iowa, where we provide that in cases where disability extends beyond the firth week one-t third of the compensation lost in the first two weeks be ab- sorbed. repeating this process at the end of the sixth and seventh weeks.
 There should be universal cover age regardless of the number em- ployed in all employments included in compensable relationship. In Iowa we are embarrassed by constitutional limitation which seems to deny the right of compulsory application Hence we have many thousands of workmen unprotected --- grievous denial which We hope to overcome in the fullness of time. This situa- ton dscloses important contingent eies. That in very large propor- ton of industrial accidents, negli- gence can not successfully plead against the employer; that con siderable proportion of employers of labor are mot financially responsible to the extent of being able to meet heavy damage demands; furthermore, that a slap on the wrist is utterly inadequate to bring many employers to a realizing sense of their obliga- ton to labor and to society.
 wonder why so few schedules discriminate in favor. of the major hand or arm when 1t Is so com- monly understood that their value ia so incomparably higher in actual capacity for serviee2 I wonder why there is so much wrangling over the holding that the loss of substan- tial portion of the terminal phalange shall call for payment for half a finger while everybody seems to ad- init that the minutest fraction of tffe second joint, lost by accident though usually involving no additional loss of usefulness or earning power, shall count as the loss of the entire finger? 1 wonder why nearly all schedules provide so many weeks for the loss of an eye. regardless as to whether 1t shall be the first eye which may not affect earning power, or the second eye, which puts the workman entirely out of com mission.
 While there has not been, and there may not be. any organized effort to promote uniformity in legislation. We are more and more nearly ap- preaching common standards of rec ognized stability and value. Tex tuaI phraseology may vary, but legislative intent continually mani- fests more of common purpose. Ad- mini Atration may be along lines of substantial difference in the way of doing things, but results accom- plished are more and more nearly parallel. We scan with abiding in- >terest compensation proceeding In state and province. and in our per- plexity over unique problems are substantially aided by precedent and precept in the endeavor to establish sound conclusions and higher stan. dards of service.
 Everywhere there is recognition of common ground in the endcavor to secure to /the unfortunate work man All that may be justified by law and the rule of the square deal, while vigilantly striving to purge the service of successful faking. Con- scious that "whatever is best ad- ministered is best we like to adapt to the use of our own Jurisdiction all that is best of that which is at all adaptable. Without pride of opinion as to statutes or achievement of ad- n q ftnp tua ehnnl1 tUo Q doubtless will, more and more find common ground in legislation and actual service, regardless of varia> tion in Jaw or procedure.
 Such knowledge as I have acquired in many years of legislative service and in such administrative expe- rience confirms inr in the conclu- sion that the inching along, process Is justified by the record of events. Radical measures are almost always disappointing in results. The better achievement of law and administra- tion is founded upon a policy Of cumulative growth and consistent development of systems, and serv- ice of established character and ef fieiency. rather than upon tendency to trust to the plausible promise of alluring experiment..
 The sheet anchor of compensation is legislation. S In the establishment of the best standards we must find security and support in the statute. We can best contribute to this es. sential prerequisite by reasonable ap- peal to the legislators and tho pub lic-appeal for q statutory program sane and plain, devoid of class prejudice, suggestive of elemental justice and kindly consideration Of the victims of industrial misfortune.
 It is reported that the honey crop of the United States appreciates 250,- 000 900 pounds.