392 State Papers and Addresses

State Accident Fund, no longer will have their claims passed upon by the
quasi-judicial Commission, which theoretically, if not actually, has a stake in
the outcome. Up to now the State Accident Fund has been, in a sense, a ward
of the State Industrial Accident Commission. I consider that this separation
is a distinct step forward.

Further evidence of the State Administration's desire to protect and safe-
guard our people in every way, is furnished by the safety conference being
conducted today and tomorrow in Baltimore, under the direction of the State
Industrial Accident Commission. We believe definitely that while it is our
State responsibility to adequately compensate a worker who has been un-
fortunate enough to suffer the loss of some of his faculties, it is equally within
the province of the State to prevent, if possible, accidents to those engaged
in laborious work, by removing as far as possible the causes and reasons for
such accidents. It is highly gratifying to note that labor has joined in these
conferences and undoubtedly, the net result will be a safer state in which to
carry on your daily occupation.