The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11
BOWEN DESCRIBES F ADVERTISEMENTS IF COMPENSATION
Humanitarian Aspects and Progressive Effects Are Stressed by Jefferson
 Legislator
By LEWIS BOWEN Member Alabama Legislature From Jefferson County

Jefferson County
 Waiting period. Minimum re auirements. The waiting period should not be more than five days, perhaps not more than three days.
 Present Status.-More than one lalf of the states (3D have a wait ing period of seven days; one state tOregon) has no waiting period compensation being paid for all dis abling accidents. Two states (Mary land and Utah) have three days, while the remainder have either 10 days or two weeks. A number of the states. however. abolish the waiting period entirely if the dis ability extends beyond certain period, usually four or six weeks.
 Comment.-The importance of the waiting period may be indicated by the fact that approximately 70 per cent of all temporary disability &C., cidents terminate within one week and approximately SO per cent ter minate within two weeks, or, stated in terms of days lost, a seven day waiting period equals 9.4 per cent of the total time lost from tempo rary disabilities while 14-day wait il period equals POT per cent.
 Medical Service.-The injured em- ploye should be furnished such med ical, surgical and hospital treat ment, including nursing medicines. medical and surgical appliances, crutches and apparatus, including artificial members, as may reason ably be required to cure and re- lieve from the effects of the in- Jury.
 Present Status.-All except two tArizona and New Hampshire) of the 42 compensation states. provide ; medical service in case of injury The usual provision in the law IS that the employer shall furnish reas- enable or necessary medical, surgi- cal and hospital service for specific periods, but limited as to maximum amount. The maximum amount is usually s1oo to s20o and the maxi- mum periods range from two weeks to 90 days. Seven states. however, place no limitation except reasorableness upon the amount of medical service which the employer must furnish.
 Percentage.
 Minimum Requirements. The amount of compensation should equal in case of disability at least 66 2-3 per cent of the injured employees wages. In case of death the percent age should vary with the conjugal condition and number of children, ranging from 35 to 40 per cent in case of lone widow, plus Is per cent additional for one child, and 10 per cent additional for each addi- tional child subject to maximum of 66 2-3 per cent.
 ie Present Status.-In 13 states the compensation scale is 6o or 66 2-3 per cent of the employees wages. Fourteen states provide 50 per cent n ,l tt, i,,ln oft per cent. In three states Oregon, Washington and Wyoming) compcn- sation is not based upon wages. These states provide a flat monthly pension which varies with conjuga- ton and number of children.
 s4 O O O
 Weekly Maximum And Minimum.
 Minimum requirements. The week ly maximum should not be less than $20 and the weekly minimum should not be less than $l0 or actual wages if the employees wages are less than s10. There are good req sons for abolishin the weekly max imum although except perhaps in the case of exceptionally high paid Worker | Present Status.-The weekly maxi mum of the various state compen- sation jaws range from S10 in Col DTauO ana NeW IlaulpSHtIc tO %-o III California. New York and North Dakota. The average weekly max imum seems to be about s15. o O O Compensation Periods. - Minimum Requrements.-In fatal accident cases compensation should be paid until death or remarriage of the widow. In case of remarriaSe a hmp sum equal to two years com ptnsation should be awarded her. Children should receive compensa- tion up to the age of IS years and longer if physically or mentally in capacitated. In permanent total dis ability cases compensation should continue during life. In temporary total disability cases compensation should be paid during disability. In permanent partial disability cases compensation should be paid for temporary total disability during the l,calng period and in addition com )tenSation for permanent partial al Jic,h in haI