The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-03-12
AN INFAMOUS ACT.

IT'S Aooptlon pressed upon the people re-
presentatives. 1t is difficult to say what
a Radical Legislature may do, but woe
be to that member who by his vote shall
| attempt to impose upon the citizens of
Pennsylvania so infamous an enactment.
Its title should read "An Act TO protect
railroad companies and other corporations
against redress for their own wrongs, and
to curb courts and juries in the perform~
ance of their functions" 3"
! The first section gives to persons "iatO-
fully engaged or employed" on the road,
or about the cars, only such remedy as
employees of the road would have-tlat
is, no remedy at all for any injury! The
second section puts maximum value of
50, 200 on loss of limbs and $1,000 on
loss of life, and gravely instructs courts
and juries that they cannot 60 higher! Ii
would be just as fair and proper, though
not as Railroads.&c., 20 make the above
sums the lowest damages. But the juries,
according to this act, must not allow any
thing for the pam and suffering of the
victim of negligence but what his actual
loss in dollars aud cents may amount to.
and when that comes up to $1,000 or
$5, 900, according as limbs or life may
have been sacrificed, then their judgment
must cease under this Procrustian bed of
railroad legislation.
But this section, absurdly as it seems
to us, Is made to apply not only to. future
accidents, but to those which have already
occurred, and in which actions are no,c
pending. No court of justice would give
this clause any effect, and legislators who
would become the tools of corporations in
making this act law would only stultify
themselves in its passage
We trust that there is still sufficient
integrity at Harrisburg to give this ini-
! quloIs bill Its Qa'etus. Railroads should
have fair play before the law, but we are
unalterably opposed to all legislation
which places corporation above the
citizen.
AN ACT relating to railroad companies and
common carriers, defining their liabili-
ties and authorizing them to provide
means Of indemnity against loss of life
and personal injury.
! Section l. BE it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representative of the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania, in General
Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by
the authority of the same, That when any
person shall sustain personal injury or
loss of life while lawfully engaged or en-
ployed on or about the road, works, dcpots
and premises of a railroad company, or in
! or about any train or car therein or there,
/ on, of which company such person is not
an employee, the right of action and re-
covery in all such cases against the com
| pany shall be such only as would exist if
! such person were an employee.
| Section 2. That in all actions now or
( hereafter instituted against common car
riers, or cor oroorations, owning, operating,
or using railroad, as public highway,
! whereon steam or other motive power is
used, 10 recover for loss and damage sus-
tanned and arising either from personal
! injuries or loss of life, and for which by
law such carriers or corporation could be
held responsible, only such compensation
/ Tor loss and damage shall be recovered as
the evidence shall clearly prove to have
been pecuniarily suffered or sustained, not
exceeding, in case of personal injury, the
! sum of two thousand dollars, nor in case
Of loss of life the sum of five thousand
| dollars.
Scctio" 8. That 1t shall be lawful for
such carrier or corporation to insure the
lives and persons of passengers against
loss or injury from accidental causes, and
however happening, while in their charge,
and for that purpose to issue and sell to
such passengers applying for the same
tickets or policies of insurance, specifying
the name OF the insured, the premium
charged, the particular trip or time COW
cred by the policy, and the amount insured,
not exceeding Except at the option of the
SAID carrier or corporation) the sum of
twenty-five dollars for each week of disa>
bIllty, for period not longer than twen-
ty'Six weeks in case of personal injury,
nor than ten thousand dollars in case of
death, and all premiums so received shall
be kept seperate and apart from the other
receipts of said carrier or corporation. and
shall not be liable for any other claim,
debts or demands against such carrier or
corporation than those arising out of said
policies, and the amount of said premium
and the securities in which the same are
invested for the benefit and protection of
such policy holders, shall be reported to
the Auditor General annually as part of
the operations OF such carrier or corpora
ton, as is now provided for by the act enti-
tied "An Act requiring railroad companies
TO make uniform reports to the Auditor
General" approved the fourth day Of
April, one thousand eight hundred and
fitty-nine. Provided, neUe,1heless, That it
shall be lawful for any such carrier or cor
poratIon, IN lieu of issuing tickets of insu-
rance as aforesaid. to keep on sale at their
ticket offices the policies of insurance or
indemnify against personal injury or death
resulting from accidental causes, issued bv