Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-06-24
THE Amy NINE DAMAGES.


On Saturday evening the NEWS pub
lshed a statement OF the controversy
between the Rocky Mountain Coal
and Iron company and the bcrcaved
families OF the mon killed he Tire Rcd
Canyon mino Disaster nt Amy Wye
ming, relative TO the amount Of dnm'
apos which the company should pay
Tor the livcs VI the men list ia ih
service; and today thuro lea further
statement Of proceedings in the mat
tor. The company offered $1,000
Tor each mnu kiIl,d, then IN
creased to 1880. This ofc5
was rejected by the families,
VINO asked 5000 aud coats Of securing
tho ssmt. Tne comTsny refused to
giant the last named figure, and III
families have combined 10 Institute
cults for the amount.
ltisapity this affair could not hnvo
been settled without going into court
Tor whatever the outcome as 10 tue
amount of damages awarded, the
contestants are sure to suffer loss aud
delay In settlement, the only 0ne,
gaining by tue litigation being tue
lawyers and others to whom fees must
DO paid. A. 10 the amount OF damage,
II might seem that $4,000 was small
compensation for the death Of the
head Of family, even Ia a case
where the killing was accidental;
but tho bcreayei nave expressed
themselves ~ content 10 settle On that
basis. after having considered all the
circumstances, without being tut 10
further trouble. Failing to secure this
settlement amioably, they viii en-.
dcayor to collect that aud more through
the courts.
In It, response the company denies
all legal responsibility for the fatality,
and insists that its offer Of Trcompeuse
Ia pure magnanimlty. However that
may be, AMI We have no reason 10
doubt that tue company desires to
do the fair thing, II Will hardly be
conceded by tho public that It's
offer to pay s0l 500 to the boreaved
iamilirs-if each Of tho u persons
killed 10 includtd-ls msdo without n
conviction that there is II measure
oi legal obligation attached thereto. II
there were no responsibility recognized
Tor the condition OF the niue, such as
produced the fatality, It H. hardly
probable ita owners would bn content
TO pay over such a large sum Tor mere
charity's sake. The tender Of the
amount, therefore, Is virtually a oou.
irssion OF legal responsibility which
viii have IT. eiirc; Ia the claims, which
aggregate double that sum, anI may
reach considerably niguer " suits are
entered.
Itis to be hoped that tho efforts At
RmiCnblu settlement Will not be allowed
to DO stopped where they are 10y the
arbitrary action n either Of tho uarilu,
concerned. La locating as the case two
public mind M iullows; Firsl-Ino
men were killed, aud the company
was Ia measure respouslOlr-nol
ormiually sO--i1r the condition Of the
mine at the time OF the explosion; and
scco4l--S8,O 600 lie no, az eEorUitaul
sum ~ rvcumpcasv Tor the takiug
away Of lho support OF family, even
when such deprivation was uuinleu.
tiOuai; leaving Uul all confederation OF
mental III elton caused by the ugruayu.
mem. A. tue same time, IN consider.
ing tho claims for damages IN an
instance like this, the extent Of tue
ust should be considered, which here
woull swell the amount 10 nearly
100000, tor tue siNiy-oue killed, and
oOsts. This IL double VIVA. the com.
pauy expresses Willingness to pay.
There may be arguments, on both
sides Of the issuo, It would not be-
wise TO Insist ON damages that are
impos6ible OF cancellation by the com,
pany; ON the other hand, II " uld not
be lust TO make every concession come
from the bereaved, who have suffered
irTsrarable loss already, Looking u.
the matter from an outside poi Of
yiow, Il might seem tn,t tho illureu
parties have reduced their claim h. d
minimum now. Yet neither thes,
nor tho company should be avcrse +.
efforts al settlement by rrputabl,
board Of arbitration, without going tl
the expense OF lawsuie, II an adjust
menI could be thus made at either
limit or any point between, ~ that Al
would consent and avoid litigation, Il
would be sensible procedure Tor b1tl
parties to make oyetturea 10 that end
We hope that the terrible catasIoph,
Of March 2Oth last " M not be caus,
u irritation IN the courts. but .hg