The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-11-24
State Accident Fund

lions or dollars nave Deen palu Out III
benefits during the thirty years of the
State Accident Fund of Maryland has
been in existence, according to the
Annual Report of the Fund, trans
mitted to Governor Herbert r. o.
Conor.
These benefits were paid out to
working men and women of Mary
land, who were injured in the course
of their employment and to their de-
pendents in cases of death, and in
cluded medical treatment.
In addition the Fund, through the
Merit Rating System which is en-
ployed in fixing the amounts of pre-
miums, has saved the policyholders
the sum of $1O2,947.97 during the
last fiscal year. This system has prov
ed it's worth, by rewarding the insur-
er wko has the foresight to recognize
and make use of safety devices and
methods to reduce accidents in their
plants.
Maryland was among the first
States of the Union to recognize the
Importance of providing compulsory
insurance for those engaged in extra
hazardous employment, and in June
of 1914, the law went into effect.
Originally under the supervision
and a part of the State Industrial
Accident Commission, the Fund pro-
vided insurance for workmen and
was conducted by TIE Accident Com
mission until 1941 when Governor
Herbert R. OConor, who sought to
improve the service to and the securi-
ty of the working people, as well as
the employers of labor, advocated
and supported measure which sepa-
rated the Fund from the State Indus
trial Accident Commission.
Under TIE reorganization the Fund
now acts as an independent depart
ment, under the direction of COM
mission composed of John A. Sher-
man, chairman, William B. Lebherz,
vice chairman, j. Edmund McGarry,
John P. Stafford, and Frank j. Bauer,
commissioners.
According to the report the total
VI JnC II uAu 10 INV ~, -
which is an increase of $416,-
20692 in the general surplus for the
year. OF this increase $178,49O.0O
represents income from operations,
the balance comprises interest on in
vestments, profit on sale of invest
ments, adjustment of bond amortiza-
ton account, and other miscellane-
Gus income, some of which items are
homecoming.
The investments of the Fund are
now 1907 in Federal Bonds, pur-
chased at par.
Witk the above surplus and Re-
Insurance Treaty, covering single
claims in excess of $25, 100000 the
Fund is in a more stable and sound
financial status than ever before and
is in a position to protect employee
and employer against any imaginable
situation with it's existence.
Actual figures in the report show
that the amount expended in benefits
compensation and medical expen-
ses) for the thirty year period was
$S,691, 33195 and for the year just
ended. $372,8$5.73.
The report further states that in
connection with the activities of the
commissioners, they have attended
international conventions of the Am
elican Association of State Compen-
sation Insurance Funds, largely at
their personal expense, in order to
meet with officials of other states and
to keep abreast of compensation adj
vances.
Practically every insurance organ
ization in the compensation field Las
safety department, which, expert
ence shows, has been big factor in
reducing accidents and thereby saw
ing many industrial hours, to say
nothing of pain, suffering and reduc-
ed income to workers. In this con-
nection the Commissioners of the
Fund lave asked the Legislative
Council of Maryland to support Leg
islation that will provide for a safety
department in Maryland.
The Superintendent of the Fund is
John R. Spellissy and it's legal mat
tiers are protected through an Assist
ant Attorney General, Donald Bowie,
Jr.