The Connecticut labor news., 1924-05-17
KLEINER EXPLAINS
 PRIVILEGES UNDER
 COMPENSATION LAW
New Haven Commissioner Tells Trades Unionists Many Facts
 They Didn't Realize

Privileges that they never knew ton act were explained to large gath ering of Labor men by Compensation Commissioner Charles Kleiner of the New Haven district at an open meet ing of the Trades Council on Thurs day night. It's not strange that the workingnan at large doesn't know all about the law and its extent, the com missioner declared, as large number of lawyers who are frequently inter ested in 1t do not know it either and even the employer whose duty 1t is to protect himself and his workers un- der the law has only rneagre idea of it also. To explain it so that the in jured worker would know how to go about securing h;ascompensation and his duties under the law and to rid him of the preying of leeches who have been attempting to fleece him of his award, was the commissioners purpose in addressing the meeting.
 Commissioner Kleiner made himself right at home with the gathering in his opening remarks by declaring him self an old time printer and still working man even though an attor- ney-at-law. His stories of the old days at the case were interesting and the manner in which he then went into the compensation law was such that everyone present got a full and clear understanding of 1t.
 In few if any cases, practically only those on which appeals to the court are taken, Is a lawyer necessary, MT. K1einer declared. The first step is for the injured person to seek an agreement with his employer, which in nine times out of ten Is satisfactory, he said, and even then the injured is protected as no agreement can be made final until approved by the com provisions of the law. Failing an agreement mutually then the next step is to go to the commissioner, hearing is held and an award made
 
 can be made to the courts and then only Is an attorney needed in most cases. The few cases that ever reach the court is ample evidence of the ex- cellent working of the law, the com missioner said.
 Compensation is as old as the ages, MT. Kleiner pointed out, first refer ence to 1t being in the Bible in the chapter on the Exodus wherein 1t .states that if man smite and jure another he shall compensate him for 1t and see that he is fully healed. Un- til very late day, however, an in jured workman was not protected like wise, the advent of machinery chang ing all modes of work so that injur- ies were more frequent. The injured had no redress except suit Tn the court under common law and they very lit tie because the law assumed risk in taking the job, possible contributory negligence and the fellow servant proviso.
 He then traced workers compensa- tion from the first institution of law in Germany in the latter part of the last century up to it's first adoption by Montana in this country early in the present century and down to the adop- ton of the law in Connecticut in 1913. Now AZ of the 48 states have com pensation laws but Connecticut's is as of goes farther than some.
 He then went into the features of the law, presenting pamphlet forms of it so that his hearers could follow and explained in detail the most import ant provisions. He laid particular
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