of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor . 303

the Commission. The following are the principal improvements in procedure
which the reorganized Commission has effected:

First. With regard to the multitude of compromise agreements of com-
pensation claims, approval is being withheld except in a few meritorious cases,
unless and until the contracting parties modify the terms and provide for the
payment of settlement amounts in weekly installments rather than in lump
sums.

Second, In all compromise agreements it is required that the claimant's
lawyer set forth in the agreement his fee. The agreement is approved only
when the matter of fee is adjusted to the Commission's satisfaction.

Third. The Commission has been undertaking a thorough overhauling of
the practices and customs of the State Accident Fund, viz.: the following up of
uncollectible bills; the assignment to its policyholders of carefully-selected
doctors, and the subsequent weeding out of those particular doctors who were
not qualified to do industrial surgery and whose practices, etc., were the sub-
ject of severe criticism by the Warnken Commission.

Fourth. The speeding up of trial work.

Fifth. The ferreting out of non-insurers, who did not carry Workmen's
Compensation Insurance, and who were not qualified under the law as self-
insurers, from those employers covered by this law, so as to undertake a thorough
correction of the situation that now prevails, viz.: Many hundreds of Maryland
employers have not complied with the law and would be unable to carry out
awards of compensation made in favor of their injured workmen.

Sixth. Temporary payroll auditors and claim investigators were employed
to enable the State Accident Fund to handle the claims against it on an intelli-
gent and efficient basis, as well as to check the 2800 payrolls of its 2800 policy-
holders, which are submitted to it every four months, so that the rates charged
can be promptly determined, thereby relieving the honest and accurate policy
holder from bearing a disproportionate share of the premium liability.

Seventh. The Commission has effected a close cooperation with the Mary-
land Vocational Rehabilitation Service, so as to facilitate the rehabilitation of
injured workmen who cannot return to their old jobs because of their major
disability.

Eighth. The Commission is working on a comprehensive accident preven-
tion program on a major scale. This is as vitally important as the payment
of compensation to the injured workmen.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Under the able leadership of Dr. H. C. Byrd, the University of Maryland,
and all its related activities, are being efficiently conducted and are offering
service of great value to the citizens of the State.

Enrolled in the University this year are 6, 167 full-time students and 2, 997
short course and special students. Of the total number of full-time students,
4, 642 are enrolled at College Park and 1, 525 in the professional schools in Balti-
more. Of the total number, approximately 66 per cent are Maryland students,
24 per cent are from the District of Columbia and the balance of 10 per cent
are from other sections.

The institution has grown rapidly and has developed into a school of ex-
cellent scholastic standing.