Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1923-02-12

men judge the social status of a
state With the enactment or a
workmen's compensation law, the
State of Delaware declared its pub
lie policy on the subject of caring
| for its citizens who are injured while
at work. hut, while exacting from
the employers OF the state, who come
within the scope of the law, strict
compliance with its provisions, the
state has exempted itself and all 9TH
err governmental agencies created by
/ Il from meeting the requirements
which IL has imposed on others.
/ The state Highway Department has
endeavored TO meet its obligations
to its injured employees by an ar
rangement with the Industrial Acct
dent Board whereby such employees
are assured protection in accordance
with the benefits pSd under the law
but at the best this is only make
shift and neither the department or
/ its employees can be bound by the
I law There are employees OF like
agencies, other than those in the
service OF the Highway Department,
who should be protected from the
hazards OF their employment and
could be. II the law was amended
to permit its being done. In VIII
mington and other incorporated cit
les and towns OF the state are classes
of public servants who are subject to
the same risks as are industrial
workers OF those cities and towns
and the striking out of the clause
"or any governmental agency Great
ed by it, from the exemption sec
ton OF che law would permit this
class OF employers and their en-
ployees to decide whether they elect
to be bound TO pay and to accept
compensation for personal injury by
accident arising out OF and in the
course OF such employment.
Accident Prevention.
The Industrial Accident Board Is
charged with the duty to inquire in
TO the causes and results OF Industrial
accidents OF every character and 10
study the most advanced methods OF
safeguarding against such accidents.
Delaware has no safety code as have
the larger industrial states and what
has been accomplished in the way OF
accident prevention is due to the vol
untary efforts OF the insurance car
riers having. the larger coverage OF
compensation insurance and several
OF the larger self-insurers. These
self-insurers maintain departments
specially organized for the purpose
OF preaching the doctrine OF safety
first; first aid hospitals with capable /
nurses in attendance have been in
stalled: and the latest devices to pre-
vent accidents are being utilized.
The insurance carriers maintain en-
cheering and inspection departments
whose duty it is to inspect the plants
covered by them; the installation OF
safety devices is suggested; and new
methods for the prevention OF acct
dents are recommended. The bene-
ats of the best modern methods OF
ACCIDENT prevention are manifested
in a Slminution OF premium to the
EMPLOYER. less liability to injury TO
the employe and saving In compen-
sation payments to the insurance
carrier.
A compe rsation rating bureau,
salely by the insurance |
carriers and upon the governing c1m-
mittee of which this Board has a
promulgates the rates
upon which the pi emiums are based
and the economy and wisdom of the 1
practices above referred 10 are re-
Elected in these rates. Recently |
there was submitted to the Board Tor /
approval the rates for 1928 ana I
general reduction OF from ten per-
cent (1Oeo) to twelve and one-haif
per cent G2ls9e) was noted. As the /
result of a merit rating plan intro
duced by the bureau, the compensa-
ton rates in this state, despite the |
fact that amendments made to the
original law increased the scale OF
benefits about twenty-five per cent
(2595). are now on level with the
rates in 1919 and in many classitica-
tions they are lower.
Rehabilitation
Some one has aptly said "rehabil-
itation is in no sense charity but
operates to prevent it," Out OF the
World War came the idea Of doing
something to re-educate and rehabi-
itate those who had been manned
in the service of our country and
with il was conceived the thought
hat what could be done for the sol
iier could also be accomplished for
he one who suffers a like mishap in
industry. The blind and the Grip
lled could be taught to coordinate
he brain and remaining parts of the
BODY to the end that some other field
" activity might be entered where
he remuneration would be sufficient
o make them self-reliant citizens
md not objects OF charity. In 1920.
~ Act OF Congress. tie Federal Gov
,rnment guaranteed to the several
states aid for industrial rehabilita- u
ion dependent upon the state APP
,ropriating sum equal to the
AMOUNT designated for such state.
from a retrospect OF the five years
administration OF the compensation
aw, the Industrial Accident Board
mas not been able to reach the con-
slusion that the necessity for the q
Of a department for
the industrial cripples
II this state is such as to warrant Z
The expenditure of such fund as
would be available by the State
matching the appropriating OF the
Federal Government. It is requir- S
I'd that the funds appropriated by ,
The government shall be handed by !