The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-08-01

to those OF labor who are stricken
in industry.
The conditions prevailing
among the staff Of the comm
sion are unsatisfactory. An ace
quate staff TO do the wor.; Shon d
be provided. Proper WAGES q /
working coalitions should b. g.
nishcd for the cmployc, u
commission. and indur ~
such as increase in pay. shoa
made for long service ard
work.
Wants Politics Elimina
An investigation should
made Of the Merit System
Maryland. and particularly Il
its application TO the State IL.
duStrial Acciden. Commiss %,
for the purpose of eliminating
the influence ,Of politics in thu
choice Of employees for the com.
mission.
The administration Of the
State fund is particularly weak.
The executives Of the fund are
dcrelict In their real duties and
shows dull regard for the
purposes of the fund. There
should be n change in the cx-
ecutive personnel of the fund
in order to make IL true com.
petitor of the private insurance
carriers.
1T should be free OF the COM
mission. but there should be la
Dor representation on its manag-
ing board. Steps are now being
taken by the new chairman
(Charles E. Moylan) TO correct
the evils surrounding the selec-
ton Of physicians for the funG.
There should no clinic main
tanned by the State fund.
There have been promiscuous
grants Of lump sum payment.
These should be allowed only IN
exceptional cases. The new chair
man apparently is making eli 3Y,s
to correct the abuses pertainn4
TO lump-Sum payments. but ap
pears TO lean too heavily ~ y
lawyers to fix the counsel fee ~
each such case and appears -
to provide the commission ~
sponsibility in passing on lu.'J
sum payments BY relying TO-
much on the findings OF the -
cational Rehabilitation Service
Asks More Hearings in COua;.c,
There is need for more IL
quent hearings in the countlcs.
The commission should rearrange
its schedule of hearings on circuit
so as to reach the counties with
such frequency that claimants
should receive expeditions hear
ings.
The commission should avail
itself OF impartial medical advice.
1t should call in doctors ana
specialists who are nonpartisan i'll
the interest of claimants who cam
not afford TO employ expensive
medical advice.
There should be n new home
for the State Industrial Accident
Commission. The present Offices
of the commission and the fund
are inadequate and unbecoming
for such important work affect
ing such large number Of our
citizens. A new building should
be erected devoted TO all matters
OF the state pertaining to labor.
This would also save the State
large sums of money now paid io:
rent for numerous labor bureaus
and Offices spread about in dif
ferent parts of the city.
Favors Changes In Law
There are numerous lcgisla-
tive changes necessary in order
10 bring the Maryland act
abreast Of our modern times
and conditions. Furthermore.
experience has demonstrated
that there are many shOrtcOm.
ings in the act. and that certain
sections Of the law have been
rendered unclcar in meaning By
judicial Interpretation. Unless
many Of these changes are
made. serious abuses and evils
In administration of the act
will continue indefinitely.
There should be an exclusive
State accident fund. The expert
ment OF many other States has
proved that where the State alone
can provide assurances for EN-
ployers for compulsory compen-
Continued on Paea Threa