Research

Scope and Content Note

The series contains records relating to the committee's investigation of the effectiveness of New York's compensation and unemployment insurance programs as part of the committee's overall investigation into working conditions, which had its roots in government's growing recognition of unions and union practices. The records consist of correspondence, memoranda, annual and statistical reports, and printed reports on these programs in New York, other states, and under federal regulations.

Records from the office of Henry D. Sayer, general manager of the Compensation Insurance Rating Board, detail the review of rating plans, i.e. the amount of compensation a worker would receive for various kinds of injuries.

In addition, approximately 500 5 x 8 cards contain summary information from the National Council on Compensation Insurance relating to workers' compensation losses and premiums in New York industries from 1934 to 1944. These cards provide: name of industry (e.g., furniture assembly, hotels and boarding houses, laundries, rubber tire manufacturing); years for which statistics were reported (usually 1936-1940); payroll amount; and losses and premiums.