The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18

returned from business trip to Atlanta.
 Shorty" Barganier, conductor on the West End line, has returned from two weeks, vacation.
 Y. L. Can't is now foreman of The Age Herald ad room.
 c. F.. Paterson of The Age-Herald stereotype department had the mis- fortune to break a thumb recently. a special fund suggested above, re- lieving the employer of the extra liability. Such special funds have al- ready been established in some eight or ten states.
 Minimum Requirements.
 The administration of the compen saton act should be under an in- dustrial accident board or commits sion of not more than three mem bers.
 Present Status.-Thirty-s com pensation states have commissions or boards to administer the compensa ton act, with power to settle dis putes and make awards. In the other six states the disputed cases are adjusted by the courts. Vermont has 8 single commi ssioner, who admin isters the entire body of labor laws lHCluQlA6 luC COUlpcHSdtlOH dCl Maine has compensation commis- ston of four members. two of which the commissioner of labor and the insurance commissioner, are ex off, cio members. In Massachusetts the compensation board Is composed of seven members and in Connecticut of five members. In both of these states the function of the board is limited to the administration of the compensation act alone.
 Comment.-The need of an authori tative agency to administer the com pensation law is sufficiently demon strated in those states which do not possess such a board. A large pro- portion of American workmen, whether native or foreign. are gen. orally unfamiliar with their rights under the compensation law. Com plaint, too, is frequent that the fear Of discharge acts as an effective de- terrent in demanding compensat ton. Compensation acts in common with most other laws and are not auto matically enforceable, but require an administrative body to enforce them.
 O O Q
 Accident Prevention.
 Minimum Requirements.-The &C., cident prevention work should be under the jurisdiction of the same agency that administers the compen saton act.
 Present Status.-In over onc-half of the states havng compensation commissions the commission performs no safety work. In the other states the compensation commission is charged with the enforcement of the safety laws. either solely or in con- junction with other administrative agencies.
 Comment-E,ffective prevention of accidents depends largely upon a knowledge of their cause, frequency and nature. The compensation com mission in the very nature of things must receive reports of all compen- sable injuries, and that it is the only agency which does receive them is shown by experience. Furthermore, the problem of accident prevention is intimately connected with the whole theory and system of compensation. It would seem. therefore, that this important work might logically be undertaken by the same agency that administers the compensation provis- ions. In fact, experience has demon strated that the most effective acei- dent prevention work is being done in those states in which the compen- sation provisions and the safety pro visions are administered by the same agency.
 Suits For Damages.-The compen- sation benefits herein provided shall constitute the sole liability of the employer under this act, no suits fer damages being permitted except in case of suits against a third party.
 Present Status.-In over third of the states when both the employer and employe have accepted the com pensation act the bringing of suits for damages under either the com mon or statute laws Lf liability is forbidden. In the other states em- ployes are permitted to sue if the employer has failed to insure or has violated the safety law or has been criminally negligent. etc. In two states (New Hampshire and Arizona) the employe is permitted the option either of accepting the compensation benefits or suing for damages after the injury.
 Comment.-Suits for damages is relic of the old employers liability system which caused so much litga- ton and i'll feeling. Compensation laws were supposed to have estab