Evening star., 1928-06-17
ID. C.. COMPENSATION LAW
AND WHAT 1T MEANS
Woman Will Administer Act Which Has
Such Far Reaching Effect Upon
Washington Employers.

I
| for the enforcement of this compen-
satory legislation, smooth working
| is anticipated.
| Walter w. Warwick. the commits
sion's chief counsel. who is taking a
| leading part in launching the admin
! istrative features of the new law, ad-
vised the insurance men that the COM
mission anticipates that some employers
will find fault with the laws provisions,
| feeling that they are paying for some
thing for which they get nothing.
Text of the Law.
The Districts compensation law is
| said to be one of tho most liberal en-
acted and indeed it Is one of the
briefest passed by Congress, being en-
braced within 80 lines OF Government
| type Here it is:
| BE 1t enacted by the Senate and
| House of Representatives of the United
! States of America in Congress as
sembled. That the provisions of the
| act entitled 'Longshoremen' and Har-
| Dor Workers Compensation Act ap-
proved March 4. 1927. including all
amendments that may hereafter be
made thereto. shall apply in respect to
the injury or death of an employe of
an employer carrying on any employ
respective OF the place where the injury
or death occurs: except that in apply
ing such provisions the term en-
plover' shall be held to mean every
person carrying on any employment In
the District of Columbia. and the term
'employe' shall be held to mean every
employe of any such person.
Section g. This act shall not apply
in respect to the injury or death of %
a master or member of crew of any
vessel; ~ an employe of a common
carrier by railroad when engaged in
interstate or foreign commerce or COM
merce solely within the District of CO.
lumbia: t3) an employe subject to the
provisions of the act entitled an act TO
provide compensation for employees of
the United States suffering injuries
while in the performance of their
duties. and for other purposes ap-
proved September 7. 1915, as amended.
and a. an employe engaged in agri-
culture. domestic service or any en-
plovment that is casual and not In the
usual course of the trade. business. oc-
cupation or profession of the en-
ployer."
a. States Have Laws.
Forty-three States now have compen-
sstion laws Those that do not are
North and South Carolina. Florida,
Mississippi and Arkansas.
This new workmen's compensation
insurance act for the District does not
apply to District or Federal Govern
nient workers. They are provided for
under the compensation act passed Sep
tenber Z. 1915. Under that l2-year-
old measure, workers get medical treat
ment and such appliances as to re-
store their earning capacity, If that
be possible. Government workers get
two-thirds of the loss In earning ca
pacity occasioned bv disability incurred
as the result of the performance of
duty, but not to exceed $1I6.67 month
and a minimum Of s5o33 monthly. II
the wage at the time of the injury to
the Government worker is less than
s58.33 monthly. then he Is paid his
full wage
Compensation under the new District
law for private industry Is limited 10
$500. but under the Law that covers
Government workers. there Is no maxi |
mum. workers being paid as long as
disabled. Under the District law. the
maximum will be SIS q week, with a |
minimum OF So weekly but II the !
workers wage be less than this. he win !
get his fun wage.
Federal Act Payments.
Under the Federal act, payments to
widow terminate with death or re-
marriage. with those to children termi-
mating when they reach 10 years of
age. Payments TO brothers, sisters and
parents and grandparents, as depend
ants are limited to eight years, To
a widow, IS per cent of Federal or
District Government workers wage is
paid. with a maximum Of s6I.25 per
month, with 10 per cent additional
for each child, not to exceed a maxi
mum Of 66 "a per cent, or $lt6.67
monthly. Where one parent Is wholly
dependent. 25 per cent of the workers
wage is paid, while If both parents are
wholly dependent, 20 per cent each Is
paid
II an injury received by a worker in
private industry In the District causes
his death. as the result OF his occupa-
ton. the District Of Columbia law pro-
yideS that If there be a surviving wife
or dependent husband and no child Of
the deceased Under the age Of 10 years
TO such wife or dependent husband 80
per cef1tum OF the average wages OF the
deceased. during widowhood, or de-
pendent widowerhood with two years
compensation in one sum upon ren1ar-
or children of the deceased under the
age Of 10 years, the additional amount
OF 10 per centum OF such wages for
each such child until the age Of 10
years; In case Of the death or remar-
rage Of such surviving wife or depend
ent husband. any surviving child OF
the deceased, at the time under 10
years Of age, shall have his comDcn-
SatIon increased to Is per centum OF
such wage and the same shall be- pay
able until he shall reach the age Of 10
years. Provided. that the total amount
payable shall In no case exceed g6z1
per centum Of such wages, The deputy
commissioner having jurisdiction over
the claim may. In his discretion, re-
guire the appointment Of a guardian
for the purpose OF receiving the COM
pengatinn Of minor child"
The law also provides that "in COM
putting death benefits the average
weekly wages Of the deceased shall be
considered 10 have been not more than
$3.50 nor less than ti2, but the Total
weekly compensation snail not exceed
the weekly wages Of the DECREASED" and
that all questions Of dependency shall
be determined AZ Of the time Of the
injury"
Such is the new law that is Of such
vital import 10 workers IN the District
of Columbia,