settlement of claims are presented, requiring long record of medical
and other testimony, many resulting in appeals. This greatly in-
creases the work and expense of the department from year to year.

The General Assembly of Maryland during the session of 1929,
amended the Workmen's Compensation Law, giving the Commission
the power to formulate reasonable rules and regulations for the
establishment and maintenance of safety, having in mind the pre-
vention of and reduction in accidents in occupations governed by the
provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Law. Shortly after the
adoption of this amendment, a Safety Department was organized for
the purpose of carrying on this work, which department is adminis-
tered under the supervision, of the Chairman.

This amendment gives the Commission, the Director of Safety, the
Safety Inspectors or any other person authorized to do so by the Com-
mission, the right to enter places of employment for the purpose of
investigating the provisions therein made for the safety of employees.
Rules and regulations for the prevention of Accident issued by the
Commission have the force and effect of law.

When the General Assembly of Maryland passed the Workmen's
Compensation Law in 1914, they recognized the fact that employers
might be put in the position where they would not be able to comply
with the Law, due to the fact that the private insurance companies
would refuse to carry their risk. Furthermore, they felt that inas-
much as this form of insurance was compulsory under the State law,
that they should provide a place where the insurance could be secured
at practically the cost of writing this form of insurance. They, there-
fore, created the State Accident Fund, which is administered by the
Chairman of the State Industrial Accident Commission. This Fund
has grown gradually and has become one of the largest writers in
Maryland of Compensation Insurance business in the State, and is in
strong financial condition, affording sure and ample protection under
the Workmen's Compensation Law of Maryland.

Effective March 1, 1926, the Commission inaugurated a new merit-
rating system, the purpose of which is to reward and stimulate the
policy-holders of the Fund in their work of accident prevention and
to measure the rate more closely to the individual hazard of the poli-
cy-holder, preserving to the policy-holder, of course, the basic prin-
ciples of insurance protection, so that any severe losses will still be
distributed. This merit-rating system is working out very satisfac-
torily, and is offering an incentive to the policy-holder to take a
greater interest in accident prevention work in his plant.

The expense of operating the State Industrial Accident Commis-
sion is not a burden upon the tax-payers of the State, as the entire
expense of the Commission, not including the State Accident Fund,
is borne by the private insurance companies which write compensa-
tion. insurance, self-insurers, and the State Accident Fund; while the
cost of operating the State Accident Fund is home by the policy-
holders insuring in the Fund.

Chapter 465 of the Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, 1939,
amended the Law to provide compensation for disability or death,
resulting from a listed schedule of occupational diseases. This amend-
ment provides that there shall he a Medical Board consisting of three
members who shall be licensed physicians in good professional stand-
ing, two of whom shall have had at least five years practice in the
diagnosis, treatment and care of industrial diseases, and one of whom
shall be especially trained in roentgenology, and who shall have had
at least five years practice and experience. They shall be appointed