302 State Papers and Addresses

to a higher level where they are deserving of a definite place in the judicial
system of our State.

Provision for a constitutional amendment to provide for betterment in the
set-up and operation of the People's Court of Baltimore City was passed by
your body. The citizens of the State showed how much they approved your
action by overwhelmingly passing the amendment in the recent election.

Also, in Baltimore City, the Traffic Court situation has been vastly im-
proved through the appointment and administration of judges of ability, in-
tegrity and sound judgment. Abuses of the past have been eliminated. The
Court has handled a considerably greater amount of work with efficiency and
dispatch.

In regard to the several divisions of the minor judiciary, it is gratifying
to note that these tribunals, ofttimes referred to as the "poor man's court", are
now administered in a manner where every person, regardless of his class or of
his means, can expect fair treatment and conscientious service. Furthermore,
the motoring public which is peculiarly affected by the standards of these
courts throughout the State realizes that marked improvement has been brought
about, which is as it should be.

STATE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT COMMISSION

In the interest of working men and women, as well as of employers, atten-
tion was directed at the last session of the Legislature to needed improvement
in the State Industrial Accident Commission.

As an administration measure, a new set-up was provided which would
afford greater facilities for trials with improved machinery for administrative
control and all with a reduction in the number of commissioners. A referendum
petition was filed, thus staying the operation of the law for a year and a half.
In the meanwhile, I appointed a Commission, of which Mr. Ralph S. Warnken
was Chairman, to make a thorough-going study and report on the Commission,
its operation and its needs. This Commission made a most careful survey,
affording hearings to interested parties and submitting a comprehensive report
disclosing the fact that grave abuses had occurred.

Realizing that delay in the improvement of this important department
would not be justified, immediate steps were taken under the Chairmanship of
Mr. Charles E. Moylan, to accomplish this needed betterment. When the refer-
endum petition was put to a vote in November, two months ago, the people
approved the law passed by your body. Guided by the evident insistence of
the people that this Commission should be supervised by the most competent
individuals, I have selected four outstanding commissioners whose work, I am
certain, will be in keeping with the expressed intent of the law.

As indicative of the important bearing on the general public of the work
of this Commission, and to indicate the improvements that have been made,
the following facts are cited:

During 1939 there were 10, 300 cases of injury and occupational disease
claims filed with the Commission; 108 workers were killed; 542 lost the use of
some member or members of their bodies. The average number of industrial
accidents in Maryland is approximately 30, 000. During the year, an Occupa-
tional Disease Board, consisting of three physicians, was established to advise