When a workman is killed or injured in the course of his employment his family is deprived permanently or temporarily of his income. Formerly the view was held that this stoppage of income was the concern solely of the family of the injured man and was a matter about which the state and the employer need not take thought. Of course, if the employer was negligent and the worker was without blame, he or his representatives might collect damages. But if the employee was to blame or if some fellow employee was to blame for the accident or if it was a case of pure accident where no one was to blame, the injured man or his representatives had no recourse.

To-day, this view of the irresponsibility of employers and the state for industrial accidents is beginning to be considered antiquated. If employers are compelled to accept and to pass on to the consumers the burden of the cost of mules which are killed in their establishments, why, it is asked, should they not accept and pass on to the consumers at least the burden represented by the funeral expenses of workmen who are killed at their employment? If society through its charities must take care of the family which has been deprived of an income because of an industrial accident, why would it not be better to organize a system of insurance which would provide an income for families deprived of their wage earner?

As a result of the new way of looking at the problem of industrial accident thirty-three states have passed workmen's compensation laws within the last five years. The laws, which vary from state to state, are alike in principle. They provide, in general, compensation for all injuries by accidents arising out of and in the course of employment, including deaths resulting therefrom. In some cases occupational diseases, as for example lead poisoning, are included. In general, the injured person is given reasonable medical, surgical, and hospital services for a limited time, varying from two weeks to three months. Where death occurs a percentage of the former income is usually paid to dependents. In several of the states this payment amounts to two-thirds of the former wages. In Massachusetts, two-thirds of the wages is paid for five hundred weeks. In New York the payment is made during the dependency of the dependents. In Ohio, the period is six years. Where total disability of the injured person takes place, in several of the states two-thirds of the wages are paid during the period of total disability whether that is temporary or permanent. Where the disability is partial some of the states require the payment of as high as two-thirds of the loss of earning power during the period of disability. In general the employers must provide the funds out of which the payments are to be made by insurance or otherwise. In some cases, the employees also contribute to the insurance fund.