THE STATE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
COMMISSION

741 Equitable Building, Baltimore.

Name. Term Expires. Postoffice.
Commission:

Robert H. Carr, Chairman ..... 1935 Baltimore
Omar D. Crothers . . .......... 1933 . ........................ Elkton
Daniel R. Randall ..... 1937 . . Baltimore

Secretary, Albert E. Brown, Baltimore.
Director of Safety, James A, Haller, Baltimore

Governor appoints three, not more than two of whom shall he of the
same political faith, one for 6 years, one for 4 years, and one for 2
years, and as these terms expire the successor is appointed for 6 years.
The Governor designates the chairman. (Ch. 800. 1914.)

The State Industrial Accident Commission is charged with the duty
of administering the Workmen's Compensation Law. The law provides,
first, for the payment of compensation to employees injured in certain
extra-hazardous employments, and to their dependents in case of death;
second, that all employers in such occupations shall secure the payment
of such compensation by insuring their liability in a stock mutual com-
pany, or the State Accident Fund, or by proving to the satisfaction of
the Commission their financial ability to pay the compensation.

The business of the Commission is to administer the Workmen's
Compensation Act and involves determining what occupations are in-
cluded, receiving reports of accidents, receiving, investigating and
adjudicating claims arising under the Act. Hearings are held in con-
tested cases. In addition to these duties, the Commission administers
the State Accident Fund, which is provided by the Act as one of the
methods by which employers must insure.

The General Assembly of Maryland in its session of 1928 amended
the Workmen's Compensation Law, giving the Commission the power to
formulate reasonable rules and regulations looking to the establishment
and maintenance of conditions of safety) and to the prevention of acci-
dents in occupations governed by the provisions of the Workmen's Com-
pensation Law, and also authorized them to appoint a Director of
Safety, with assistants, to carry out these provisions under the jurisdic-
tion of the Commission, This department has been organized with Mr.
James A. Haller, as Director of Safety, and is carrying on the work as
provided in the Workmen's Compensation Law, and it is expected that
the service rendered by this department will prove of great value to the
industries of Maryland, and to their employees.

Prior to the convening of the General Assembly of 1930, the Governor
was asked to appoint a Commission to study the present Workmen's
Compensation Act of Maryland, and make recommendations of any
changes that might be made in the Act, taking into consideration the
provisions of other States, the adequacy or inadequacy of the law as
it then existed, and also to endeavor to correct any defects that might
be present therein. The Governor appointed a Commission for this
purpose, and recommendations were made, which it is hoped, will ac-
complish this purpose. Amendments covering these recommendations
were enacted and passed by the General Assembly, and it is felt that
Maryland now has a Workmen's Compensation Law which, in fairness
to all interested elements, is equal to the law of any State in the Union.

During the year ending October 31, 1930, there was a total of 41,761
industrial accidents reported to the Commission. This was 1,840 cases