New Britain herald., 1926-02-12
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND WORKMEN'S LAW

HEtt " llIneS out or lQu IL IS not because he lacked physical pcrfcc- ton, but because he got in the way of a falling wall. a beam, or in. halcd too much smoke or flames, The man who lacks being 100 per cent physically perfect frequently is among those who return to the firohouso mono the worse for the experience. In the case Of hremon nothing more than a good heart is necessary.
 Wlth the worllmen's compensa- ton act applying throughout the state 1t may be that some care is necessary in tho acceptance of men for extra hazardous employ ment. But there can scarcely be doubt that the physical oxonina- ton feature is being largely oycr- worked throughout the state.
 It has gotten so now that in in. numerablo employmcnts demanding physical labor q man cannot get q job without undergoing a physical examination and being found well nigh perfect. A certain percentage of first class workers are virtually crowded out through this system. and if 1t continues fin the present direction there will be Il large num- bor of men in the state unable to obtain employment because they happen to have minor physical ail- ments.
 Factories are not accepting men for employment who are over GO years of age. Some may be laying them off before they reach this age if they show signs of physical ailment. There are plenty of men at this age who are able 10 give q good days work In certain lines of employment. It is entirely unjust to deny 10 them the right to earn their living merely because the state has seen fit to pass a work mems compensation act that has been moro rigidly interpreted than perhaps the Legislature originally intended.
 What are we going 10 do with the men over 60 who happen to get out Of work and the other younger men unable 10 pass q phy- sical examination creditably? Are we going 10 maintain thcm in state homes?
 . The condition is serious one. That it is unjust 10 citizens, many Of them with dependents, is patent to any fair minded person.
 And what does the physical cx- animation amount 10. Once q man passes such q thing and has his employment, 1t is over. Five years later he may not be able 10 pass another. but that makes no differ ence. Ten years later he may be dead. Life is uncertain and the physically imperfect frequently outlve the physically perfect.
 The worl,mcns compensation law in the state is not working the way it was intended to work. The unique American method of in tcrpretation' has widcncd it's ap- pNc0tion 10 an astonishing extent. If the Interpretation continues much longer half the population will bo denied tho right to work because Of nose bleed, pimplos, frcchlcs or m'aslcs in tho family. II may not ho quite as bad as that but the situation is bad enough and calls for reform and more com mon gcnso.
 The wogl,mcn's compensation act is good law; but the intcrrrcta- lions have been so far-rcaching that th'y are injuring the interests Of tho very class in the communi- ty that tho law is supposed 10 benefit most. Whenever it is ruled that comp, usa'ion is due an cm- ploEe for q disease that in all probability had nothing to 60 with his employment, the result is to force employers to become so care tUI Tn cmrioying help that some mon entitled 10 jobs and perfectly capable ot GlIjnc them arc denied ibis righ' There have been doci- sjons vhinb at 'h" moment may have appeared 10 yt~'d an adlan- 'lEc 10 t particular llti,mnt, Nu, thc ",tsct of suc'r- interpretations upon tl" whole hody cC worhinEmcn 'hrorghout th" sra:, can not bc said 10 have been prorjijous.
 IL las come 10 a pass where men showing a tendency 10 disease hay- ing nothing whatever 10 do with their employment are finding them selves laid off, Others not entirely healthy ln every detail arc Hnjihr il hard 10 ran employment. and usually just a' a i'm, in If" when rh"y med f mos. Tho htaw" for such ccndt'.ons saouII be placed where f. belongs -- u9on th" f.r-