The Omaha morning bee., 1925-04-05
Labor and
Employers
at Hearing
Manned Men Exhibit Injuries
to Governor in Pleas Against
Compensation Law Amend
ments Saturday.
Omahans at Lincoln

Special Dispatch to The Omaha Bee.
Lincoln, April An a dramatic
hearing In which pleas of employers
and employees were heard, Governor
Adam MeMullen was urged by labor
sss~ repeal the bill passed by the legis'
lature amending the workmen's COM
pensation law while employers as
vehemently urged his signature to the
measure. The governor announced
his decision would be made public
Monday.
Representatives of both sides agreed
to one fact; that the handling of the
workmen's compensation law under
the Bryan administration had serious
" jeopardized its future, both from
the standpoint of employer and EN-
ploye The startling fact was set out
that during the last year Of the Bry'
an administration, fees permitted ply
sicians and surgeons in compensation
cases had increased $4,000, or A
per cent over any previous year.
Changes by Legislature.
Employees urged that Governor Nc
Mullen insist that Frank Kennedy,
commissioner of labor, cut fees to
reasonable figures. rather than per-
NIT one of the provisions of the new
law, limiting surgical, hospital and
medical fees to 5000, to BECOME oper-
etive.
1t was pointed out that when Ken
nedy was labor commissioner before
he had reduced medical and surgical
fees and could do 1t again. Briefly,
changes made by the recent legisla-
ture follow:
Fixing 5000 limit on hospital and
medical care.
Changing totai disability clause so
employees totally disabled shall re-
eeive compensation for 400 weeks, in
stead of for life. as present law pro
yides
Permitting expert conclusions on
@t~>.t prior diseases, or indiscretions,
play In prolonging rehabilitation TO
influence compensation awarded.
Permitting employees to waive COM
pensation claims, as safeguard to
employers against hernias already in
existence as we'll as other physical
dSfects
Compensation High Here.
Facts developed by employers dur.
Ing the hearing follow:
Compensation insurance is higher
In Nebraska than any state in the
union. excepting New York. AS an
example, 1892 out of every 800 in
labor costs in tearing down old state
house goes for compensation insur-
ence.
Despite fact that Minnesota has a
more generous compensation law. Ne
braska compensation insurance is
higher In this state.
Fees charged by certain physicians
and surgeons in compensation cases
are beyond all reason.
Cost of administration of law has
increased nearly so per cent since its
passage in 1914.
In many instances certain diseases
already contracted make minor in
juries incurable, and yet employers
are forced to pay insurance rates to
cover complete period of disablement.
Larger firms. which can afford to-
have waived compensation laws and
are operating under common law.
The plea made by the labor repre-
sentatives was dramatic. Human
wreckage of industrial life, in the
form of men manned and crippled
was thrown into the picture.
Injured Men Present.
A number of these unfortunate
men were present at the hearing
One man, George w. Rickard. 2426
North Thirty.third avenue, Omaha
was horribly burned in a factory in
the part OF east Omaha which is in
Iowa, where the 5000 limit on medl
cal services is In vogue.
A. II. Bigelow. speaking for labor
asserted that Richards hands were
crippled for life, because when the
$500 limit was reached, Rickard was
given careless and unsatisfactory
treatment.
Look governor" Richard said, as
he advanced toward Governor Nc
Mullen. His hands, horribly deform
ed and looking much like claws, were
passed only a few inches from the
eyes of tlG governor. McMullen took
Richards hands and examined them
carefully.
Another was IT. G. Prince. OF Oma
ha. father of four children, whose
neck was broken and Is now support
ed by wire harness. Bigelow az
serted the reason Prince was alive
was due to the fact there had beer
no limit on care given him.
II have been rehabilitated to a Ger
tain extent and recently have worked
a little for the city. but now | am
having trouble with my spine,
Prince said. III the ,400week limit
goes into effect and I am forced &c
quit work, 7 won't have anything FOL
support"
Dollar Against Humanity.
ut IL the American dollar pitted
against American humanity" Ton
- o-lson of omaha said.
Tn opening the hearing Governor
McMullen expressed regret that all
facts and figures had not been pre-
sented to legislative committees. lie
asserted that he understood only per
funetory hearings were held. because
n lack of interest in amendments al
that time.
The laboring man can't afford u