Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17
THE BILL DEFEATED.
BUT FIVE VOTES FOR THE EN-
PLOYERs' LIABILITY ACT.
aALP FEES OUT OF The TREASURY.
The Retrenchment Measure Contain
ing This Provision Goes Through
mcnt Measure Passes the Senate.

the HouSe-Penttenttary ENLARGE
mcnt Measure Passes the Senate.
The debate on the employers liability
bill, which had lasted since Friday, was
finally brought 10 a close in the Senate
yesterday, and vote taken which re-
suited in the overwhelming defeat of he
measure. Mr.. Flood and Mr.. Mushbach
closed the debate in strong speeches in
opposition TO the bill. The Senate finally
passed the bill appropriating $4,000 for
The enlargement Of the penitentiary. the
work to be done under the direction Of
the Governor, Superintendent Of The
Penitentiary. First and Second auditors,
md Treasurer
The feature Of the day in the House
was che passage of the Retrenchment
Committees bill. providing that fees OF
officers in the prosecution OF certain
classes of criminal cases when paid out
Of the state Treasury shah he reduced
one-hah. Mr.. Winborne stated on the
floor Of the House that it was thought
IA measure would save the state $4,000
year.
The Governor sent to the General AS
sembly yesterday a resolution recon-
mending and urging retrenchment legis-
lation.
The Day In the Senate.
The Senate session began without
prayer
Mr. Turnbull offered a resolution, which
o1 al tl-.
at 2;30, and resumed at o'clock, when
only bills as to which there is no objec-
ton shall be taken up.
The Watkins bill, which has passed the
House, 10 prevent Interference with the
pupils Of female boarding schools. was
reported from the Committee on Public
institutions, with the recommendation
that II 30 not pass.
There were only three bills introduced.
Two were offered by Mr.. st. Clair. One
of them (No 4SO is designed TO amend
section Of the charter of Clintwood, and
the other (No. 4Sl) amends section 19 of
the charter Of the same town. The third
bill (No. 4S2) was presented by Mr.. Kane.
and it authorizes the town Of Big Stone
Gap TO exercise certain powers.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY BILL.
At 1890 o'clock the special order. which
was the employers liability bill, was
taken up. and Mr.. Flood began his speech
in opposition. He argued, and apparently
sustained his position by citations from
various authorities. that the doctrine Of
fellow-servants was a part of the COM
mon law, dating from the time whereof
the memory Of man runneth not to the
contrary"
He criticised the bill in that il did
not change the law as TO all en-
ployees but only as to employees Of rail-
ways engaged in the operating depart
ment. He said there were only about 1900
such employees in Virginia. while the
men who worked In railway shops. in
mines. at dry-docks, and in other DANCE
rous employments in the state. numbered
$4,000. Why not give them the protec-
ton which this bill was claimed TO give
He argued against the bill as likely to
cause railway employees to be more neg
ligent in the discharge of their duties
thereby endangering the safety of the
passenger.
Mr.. Flood asserted that recent decisions
of the Supreme Court of the State had
not asserted any new doctrine. II simply
followed decisions and principles long
recognized and followed; the court had
rendered the State a service by simplify
ing and making clear a rule as 10 which
there was conflict.
1T is ridiculous for US TO endeavor in
the hurly-buriy of a legislative session."
said Mr.. Flood. Ito change rule of law
evolved I'm the quiet of the scholars
library and considered by judges on the
bench"
RAILROAD MEN NOT ANXIOUS. J
He denied that the railway men were
30 anxious &c have the bin passed. If
they were they would not have been salts
bed with the letters and petitions sent
20 their Senators and Delegates two years
.eII fop fhe.r Of d
they would have sent hot letters and res
buttons here within the past few weeks.
Regarding the assertion by Mr.. Nell
waine in his speech Tuesday, that
the Supreme Court appeared to have a
strong leaning towards the rich as against
he poor. Mr.. Flood said he was sur
priscd 10 hear such a statement from
Iuch a lawyer. He thought the facts
would not bear him out. The Senator |
from Petersburg had said the courts |
made out that an implied contract" ex- (
listed between the master and servant by /
which the latter agreed 60 hold the form !
err guitless for the negligence Of his SER
saBts--a contract the courts had ex- |
presaly decided could not be made Mr. /
Flood said II was well recognized that /
man could contract against the negli- |
Rc1cc OF a third party. lie was not sur
prised that the Senator from Danyille /
CMr. Nithers) had advocated the bin. he |
Vas recognized as man who hated cor
poFations. lie could understand such a
feeling. lie had. himself. often felt when
the courts decided against him and for
The corporation. that he would like 10
Eet good wEack at the latter OF every |
ch'ss. lie had felt that way when he
VS. defeated for Congress by a railway
corporation. But when a man Is a rep
Iesentative OF the people. something In
the oath he takes raises him as far as
weak human nature can be raised. above
tne selnshness and injustice OF men.
~ conclusion. Mr.. Flood paid high
inDutf 10 what the railroads had ac-
.svmpushed for the State and besought
the senators 10 defeat a bill which, was /