Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 731

He gave some of the best testimony I have heard and came several times.

Then I had to have the Governor's approval for an addition to the budget to enable us to have a fund at the disposal of the commissioners which could be used to bring in expert testimony when we thought that the situation required it. That, of course, was a terrific advance. The Insurance companies made all kinds of objections, but they hadn't a leg to stand on. They went and got expert testimony. The claimant couldn't afford to bring in expert testimony. Sometimes he did and he often brought in a shyster doctor. He didn't know the difference. The doctor could easily be broken down because he had no reputation. We got a very fine set of men. He finally had a small medical advisory board who helped us pick the specialists whom we would want for particular cases. I don't say they always testified in favor of the claimant, but from that we got an impartial, honest and competent medical opinion on some of these close cases.

During this period in the Industrial Board one of my principal duties was to forward some reforms and desirable changes in the workmen's compensation law, as well as in the basic labor law. Governor Smith was always very anxious to have the workmen's compensation law made as broad and liberal,





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help