Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15
THEY WILL PROTEST.
Manufacturers Want the Employers
Liability Bill Defeated.
no CONTROL OVER ACCIDENTS.
A Prolonged Lockout of Workmen at tht
Howard Glass Works.
INDUSTRIAL AND CAPITAL NOTES

Pittsburg manufacturers are preparing to
protest against the passage of the bill of D.
R. Jones, now pending in the Legislature,
commonly known as the employers liza
bility bill" A movement was started a
few days ago among the largest and most
prominent employers of labor, with view
OF sending a protest to Harrisburg, and
probably committee TO work against the
bill. The remonstrance is now being cir
culated and signed by every one to whom it
has been presented.
The section to which the objections are
raised is as follows:
Be it enacted, That hereafter no person hav-
Ing any control or direction of the services of
any employe, or having any supervision or in
spection over any room or place where any en-
ploye works or is to work, or having any con-
troll, supervision or inspection over the con-
struction or operation of any machinery. en-
gine, vehicle, shaft, slopes, drifts, entries,
gangways, railroad works or plant con-
nected with, or used in the business
of the employer shall not hereafter be
deemed co-employer of the employer.
injured: fatally or otherwise or killed, hut he
shall be deemed the vice principal of the en-
ployer and for all injuries or loss OF life suf-
of the employer which could have been
avoided by the exercise of proper care by such
vice principal. the employer shall be liable to
the person so injured or in case of death to his
or her legal representatives.
Where the Manufacturers Stand
Chairman w. L. Abbott, OF Carnegie,
Phipps & Co., whose firm will join in the
remonstrance, said when seen yesterday:
81 scarcely believe it is necessary to send
the protest, as do not think the bill can be
passed in its present shape. However, it is
best to be on the safe side and show the
Legislature just where the manufacturers
stand. The bill hasevidently been introduced
solely in the interests of the workmen, and
while admit that some accidents might be
prevented, 1 think / am safe in saying that
80 per cent Of the accidents in our works are
due to the carelessness of the men them
selves, and have occurred in ways that could
not possibly have been foreseen or avoided.
LAS understand it, the bill proposes to
make the foreman co-employer with the
employer and make both responsible for
these accidents. There can be nothing fair
about holding man responsible for some
thing over which he has no control or powers
of foresight"
William II. Latshaw, Secretary of the
Pennsylvania Tube Works Company, who
is also interested in the matter. said: "It is
an outrage, and there is not manufacturer
or employer In the city, SO far as l know,
who will not join in the remonstrance. 1 do
not think the Legislature ever got more
unanimous sentiment ou any question than
they will get from the manufacturers of
Pittsburg on this liability question"
Coal Operators Also Interested.
Alex. Dempster, the coal operator, and a
large employer of labor, said that operators
are equally interested in the protests with
the manufacturers, and will join in remon-
strating against its passage. Roger Hartly
and Thomas Wood will likely go to Harris
burg in the interests of the operators this
week, and while there will also put in a
word in behalf Of the manufacturers.
A. c. Robertson. an ex-member of the
was seen, but he declined to ex-
press an opinion on the matter He said he
knew Of q number of letters having been
sent to Senators and Representatives, asking
them to vote against the measure, but he
thought it would be in bad taste for him to
express an opinion.
Among those who are said to have written
to Harrisburg. and are now interested in the
are James NJ. Bailey, of Phil
lips, Nimick & Co., John Chalfant, of
Spanz Chalfant & Co.; John A. Wood, of
] John A. Wood & Son, and Joshua Rhodes,
of the Pennsylvania Tube Works.