The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-02-06
By STANLEY OGG
Hamilton Branch Office Manager.

of Ohio was placed on the statute
books of the state in the year of 1912,
after the Legislature had authorized
the governor to appoint committee
to investigate and report a bill for
speedy remedy for employees for
injuries received in the course of en-
ployment. This committee was ap-
appointed in 1910 and made their re-
port in 1911, and on June 5, 1911, the
first workmen's compensation act was
approved; this act was an optional
one with respect to employers. In
September, 1912, constitutional
amendment authorizing the passage
of laws providing for state fund
to be created by compulsory contri-
buttons by employers was approved.
In 1913 such legislation was passed
and the workmen's compensation law
was made compulsory. Since that
date there have been many amend
ments made to the act such as the
occupational disease law, passed in
1924; the increasing of the maximum
weekly award from $12 to SIS, and
the death award from the original
amount of $3,750 to $4,000; and later
in 1924 the weekly premium award
was increased to the present amount
|. of $1875 and the death award to
S6,500 Before each session of the
general assembly of Ohio convenes it
has been customary for committee
of representatives of employers and
of labor to meet to discuss desired
changes desired by either group as to
the application of the basic rate and
other matters that are brought to
their attention. as result of these
conferences the working people of the
state have been benefited and indus
try has been protected. One of the
most progressive features of the Ohio
workmen's compensation law is the
department of safety and hygiene.
This department was established in
July, 1925, and has as its purpose to
promote through education of the en-
ployer and the employe the preven-
ton of accidents and occupatlonal di-
sease. This department has accom-
plished much since it's inception, and
its slogan, Safety is better than COM
pensation," is known throughout the
state Safety engineers are contin-
ually moving through the state con-
ducting meetings and organizing
safety councils, in which they have
the whole hearted support of the en-
ployers. Much good results from
these councils, and many employers
of large numbers of workers are able
to operate their factories and mills
for long periods of time without Sc
rious accident or loss of time.
Although the workmen's compensa-
ton law has received a tremendous
amount of publicity both from the
platform and from the public press,
there is at the present time many cltl-
zens of the state of Ohio, both en-
ployers and employees, who do not
realize the far-reaching scope of this
law.
The question is asked times without
number, Who are amenable to the
law, and who can participate in the
fund created by the law?
In answer to the first inquiry, it
is best answered by stating that every
employer who has in his employ three
or more workers, male or female, is
required by the law to be contributors
to the state insurance fund. The en-
ployer of one person may become
contributor also; the members of
firm, partnership, or corporation
may also secure the coverage of the
workmen's compensation fund by ap-
plying for the same.
The answer to the second inquiry is,
Every workman who is in the employ
of the state, of any county, city, town
ship, incorporated village or school
district, including regular members of
lawfully constituted police and fire
departments, every person IN the serv-
ice of any person, firm or corporation,
including any public service corpora
ton employing three or more work
men regularly in the same business,
or in or about the same establishment
under any contract of hire; this in
cludes aliens and minors.
There are two classes of insurers,
known as state insurers and self
insurers. In the first class, or state
insurers, the employer pays his in
surance premium into the state
treasury and compensation is paid to
the injured employe or to his depend
ents by the industrial commission Of
Ohio from the workmen's compensa-
tion fund. In the second class, or
self-insurer, as it is known under Sec
/ ton % of the act, the employer elects
to pay compensation direct to his in
jured and to the dependents of his
killed employees, under the supervision
of the industrial commission of Ohio.
Compensation is paid not only for
injury or disability arising out of IN
Jury sustained in the course of en-
ployment, but for certain occupational
I;cnacos Snch aS lead nnisnninp mer-