American Economic Association

Administration of Workmen's Compensation by Walter F. DoddReview by: Leonard W. HatchThe American Economic Review, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Mar., 1937), pp. 212-213Published by: American Economic AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1803862 .

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212 Reviews and New Books [March

Insurance and Pensions Administration of Workmen's Compensation. By WALTER F. DODD. (New

York: The Commonwealth Fund. 1936. Pp. xviii, 845. $4.50.) This is the best study in its field now available. Others have been confined

almost without exception to a single jurisdiction and so to only a portion of the picture on a national scale, but this ranges over the entire field in the United States.

This is the latest of the series of studies in administrative law by the Legal Research Committee of the Commonwealth Fund which has been under way for some years and is to continue. The author is a member of the Chicago bar and was formerly professor of law in Yale University Law School, where he was serving when this study was undertaken six years ago. Every effort was made to cover all important law amendments down to January 1, 1936.

Its materials are drawn both from original investigations made for or in cooperation with this study and from other investigations and reports. The former were made by examination of records, observation of actual procedure, study of official reports and court decisions, and interviews with officials.

The method of treatment followed is to take up one by one each of the problems or steps in procedure involved in the administration of a com- pensation law, analyze each, and set forth and discuss the methods of handling its various aspects or parts followed in various jurisdictions. For many topics reference to particular jurisdictions is only in incidental fashion by way of noting illustrations of the method under consideration. For some, however, which are of larger scope or significance, a series of separate accounts of the method followed in each of several jurisdictions is presented. But the presentation throughout is not that of a compendium of practices in individual jurisdictions but a critical analysis of the character of the problems presented in any jurisdiction and of the methods of meeting those problems as illustrated in sample jurisdictions. The degree of detail in treatment is noted by the author as one which may be a source of criticism, but to this he makes the sufficient answer that the volume is not intended primarily for the general reader but for those specially interested in work- men's compensation and problems of governmental administration. After many years of compensation laws and their general acceptance, the need is less for treatises on their general aspects than for searching analysis of their elements and how they are working out in detail just such as this volume offers.

A critical examination of this study to test its attitude in the exercise of its role of judge of methods and practices has revealed nothing to deter

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1937] Insurance and Pensions 213

the reviewer from commending its conspicuous broad-mindedness and fair- mindedness. Comments and conclusions are not dogmatic and are cautiously and carefully drawn. This is not to say there is no room left for difference of opinion as to some conclusions presented. Where so much hangs on judgment there is bound to be room for differences even of informed opinion. But this does not alter the fact that this study bears all the earmarks of a wholly scientific and unbiased attitude.

In his concluding chapter the author correctly remarks that "much remains to be done toward bettering the content and administration of com- pensation laws." The volume provides an ample bibliography.

LEONARD W. HATCH

Pelham Manor, New York

NEW BOOKS

ALLEN, F. T. General principles of insurance. (New York: Longmans, Green. 1936. Pp. 250. $1.)

BAKER, H., compiler. Social security: selected list of references on unemploynent, old age and health insurance. (Princeton: Princeton Univ. Industrial Rel. Sec- tion. 1936. Pp. 31. 25c.)

BERMAN, E. Life insurance: a critical examination. (New York: Harper. 1936. Pp. xi, 192.)

CONWAY, T. A. The ABC of the Townsend plan: complete analysis of the Town- send plan; copy of McGroarty bill included. (Elyria, Ohio: Author. 1936. Pp. 43.)

GILBERT, M. and GILBERT, E. A. Industrial insurance: a snare for workers. (New York: Progressive People's Pubs. 1936. Pp. 23. 3c.)

HALL, F. Iowva workmen's compensation lawi). (Shenandoah, Iowa: World Pub. Co. 1936. Pp. 332.)

HARWOOD, E. C. and FRANCIS, B. H. Insurance and annuities from the buyer's point of view. 4th ed. (Cambridge: Am. Inst. for Econ. Research. 1936. Pp. xiv, 171.)

HENDERSHOT, L. B. Life insurance agency organization. (New York: Life Office Manag. Assoc. 1936. Pp. 171. $2.75.)

McBRIDE, E. D. Disability evaluation: principles o0 treatment of compensable injuries. (Philadelphia: Lippincott. 1936. Pp. xvi, 623.)

Contains 374 illustrations by Herbert Chezam. MAGEE, J. H. General insurance. (Chicago: Business Pubs. 1936. Pp. xiii, 584.

$4.) Covers fire, marine, casualty and life insurance. Part 6 deals with fidelity

and surety bonds. "Since the book is designed for use in college survey courses in which the

student doubtless is making his first contact with the field, experienced insur- ance men will find it to contain much that is elementary. Moreover, some of the more difficult and advanced phases of the various branches of insurance, that might reasonably be expected in a text for college students, had to be omitted as belonging more properly in specialized texts limited to a single field and designed for advanced courses."

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