The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-22

az the measure and did not desire TO cut
off debate He would therefore yield II
any one else desired to speak.
This reopened the discussion and MT.
J. NJ. Gywn. OF Smyth. FIRST addresseu
the House in opposition to the measure.
Mr. John NJ. Gwyn. Of Swyth, who OPP
posed the measure. pointed out that the
bill had first been very far-reaching, but
with the striking out Of section ., II had
been restricted to railroad companies
only At the next session. however. the
Legislature might extend thu scope OF the
measure and make II even apply TO farm
ers He then referred to the well known
story OF the one whose breath KILLED u
steer and I'm turning TO the rural members
he said. ARE these hay-seeders allowing
themselves TO be killed by a few breaths
Of lawyers?'
In speaking OF the damage suits which
! would follow. Mr.. Gwyn thought that
one-half OF the damages would 20 into
| the pockets OF lawyers. In referring to
| the lawyers he stated that they received
| their education at the University, while
| he had received his education behind
mule and a plow shear, and the only time
when he saw the University was by
| passing by on a train. 1t had been said
| that the bill under discussion was a step
| in new direction. He feared that was
so and that something would be added TO
| II every session, so as to give It to the
| country people in broken doses In
closing. Mr.. Gwyn said he wanted to be
brief. because Father Mnter had told
| the members that every minutes talk on
| ;he floor of the House cost the State two
| dollars.
LABOR UNION FOR IT.
Mr.. l.. G. FOXES. OF this city. in speak
ing for the bill said the only argument
against this righteous piece Of legisla-
ton had been that its advocates were an
archists. socialists and radicals and the
| members had been cautioned not TO al
ways follow the lawyers. He preferred.
however, TO follow lawyers rather than
| to be tied TO the wheels OF a railroad
| corporation like slave. The bin under
| discussion had been endorsed by the Cen
| trail Labor Union. of Richmond, and by
all labor organizations belonging TO the
| same. There had been no delegations Of
| the business men before the committee
| in opposition to the measure, which was
only fought by one railroad attorney
Mr. i. VI. Carter Of Scott. spoke in an
earnest manner against the bill. which,
he said, made war on one particular
species Of corporation and was particu-
| larly oppressive 10 that one class. The
advocates OF the bill had endeavored TO
show that a corporation consisted Of
number OF men without hearts and SYM
| pathy, who had associated themselves
| for the purpose of carrying on such great
achievement.
Mr.. j. W. Williams. OF Giles. offered an
amendment 10 section 4. under which an
| cmplOye shall not recover under the ac-
| ton or negligence OF a fellow servant II
IL was shown that the fellow servant was
a competent, SOBER and safe man.
Mr. Saunders remarked that this
| amendment was already contained in the
| bill
Mr. J. S Craig. Of Rockbridee. thought
there seemed TO prevail a misunderstand-
| ing i'm reference 10 the application Of the
bill, but ne was heartily in favor Of the
measure. which simply intended to place
| employees Of railroads exactly where the
| employees OF farmers now stand.
Mr. J. J.. Anderson. OF this city. also
spoke briefly I'm favor OF the measure.
He was followed by Mr.. Reddy. the pa
iron. who made an eloquent plea for the
adoption Of the measure. lie said the de-
bate had been conducted on high lines
and nothing had been left unsaid that
might have been said I'm its favor. IL
| had been opposed by the paid lawyers Of
| corporations who had done their very
best to defeat it. One OF the opponents.
| Mr. Pitcher Of Fauquier. had acted Ike
"a human photograph. getting out some
| thing very indistinctly that had been
| talked into him. The gentleman from
Fauquier did not have any knowledge Of
the subject and did not have wisdom
enough to appreciate this fact.
WHERE TO GET THE MONEY.
Or. Winston, Of Hanover, said that from
the statistics furnished by the advo-
! Gates Of the bill il might be estimated
"a in
round numbers one hundred persons were
| killed by railroad accidents. etc. in this
! State. If the bill under discussion was
| enacted it meant that the liability OF the
! railroads in this State was increased by
| one million dollars annually. lie desired
| 10 know whore this amount was 10 come
from. unless it was taken from the en-
| ployes and from those who travelled or
shipped goods over these railroads.
Mr.. Reddy replied that by decreasing
the Hobbies the railroads companies might
save that amount. Railroad companies
| did not comply with the law until the
lash OF legislation was applied. No one
had appeared 10 oppose the bill except
one railroad attorney who had been en-
! gagged in 4 death struggle 20 defeat the
| measure If it lad not been for the power
| OF corporations I'm this country Major
| Mckinley would not to-day be the Pre-
| sidcnt of the United States. The speaker
! closed his argument with beautifully
| worded appeal TO the members TO cast
| their votes in the interest Of justice. If
| the bill was defeated al this time it would
certainly triumph finally at some future
day.
| Tie various amendments, under which
| the provisions of the bill were restricted
to railroad companies only. were then
| adopted and similar action was taken in
| regard to Mr.. Williams amendment OF
section 1.
THE VOTE IN DETAIL.
The bill was then ordered 10 its en-
| grossment and third reading by vote
of 80 to Is. which was as follows:
Ycas-Messrs Allen. Anderson. Barley,
| Bauscrman, Blsiiemore, Charles 7. Bland,
George &. Bland. Boaz. Booker, Car
ungton. Chaplin. Cooke. Craig. Darnali,
Diggs, Duke. Early, Embrey Fitzpatrick,
Folkes. Galleher. Garrett. Goad. Hale
Harrison, Hicks. Ivey, Upton ID. Jen-
nings, Kizcr. Lovelace. Matthews, Maui
pin, McClanahan Mintcr, Montague,
Murphy. Palmer, Parks Powell. keddy,
Saunders Snead. j. +. Smith, SwtZer
Turner Turpin. c. II. Walker. Watson
Wharton, J. W. Williams, William g..
Williams, Wilson, Winborne. Woods.
Nays-Messrs. Berry, Blanton. Brown
ing, Caldwell. Thomas J. Campbell, Car
ter. Churchman. Clarke. Elswick, Feath-
erston, Gwynn Hatcher Jones, Jordan,
| James Mann, William Henry Mann, New
n.