The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-18
Or. Hedges, After Great Speech,
Exhibited One Of His Patients.
.EMPLOYERS'tLIABILl MEASURE.
Mr.. NIcHac Thinks Capt. Parks Act
TOO Radical and Railroads Will
Probably Oppose Both the Pend
ding BiIls-D:stricto of Co,um-
bia Wants to Acquire Land
in State of Virginia.

The Sen1te Committee on Public Insti-
tGtions last night heard several gentlemen
express their views in favcr of the estap-
lishment of a State colony for eplieptics.
Senator Morris, the chairman, presided
over the session; which was held in the
Senate chamber Many interested specta-
tors were present.
senator lie Cato, the patron Of the bin,
made u plain and Dra ctical tax III lasor
OF the measure, and was followed by Dr.
w. +. 5Drewry, superintend ant Of the Cen
trail State Hospital at Petersburg, who ad-
vanced strong arguments in behalf of tile
act.
The speech Of the evening was made oS
Dr. ]. Allison Hodges, who eloquentlS,
earnestly and ably advocated the passage
of the bill. He declared that in his ludS-
ment it was not OILY the duty OF the
state, but it would be a simple act of
humanity to make proper provision Tor
these unfortunates. DR.. Hodges brought
with him one of his epileptic patients,
man who s,rved in the Confederate army
and was wounded. He has been an epilep-
tic for fifteen years and is unable to get
employment on that account, though ap-
pa1ently a very healthy man. He is sub.
iect to fits and they come upon him at un-
expected times.
DIR. Rowe, of Orange. representing the
Medical Society of Virginia, spoke in pc
half of the bill.
The committee decided to report the
measure favorably with the request that
it be referred TO the Finance Committee
and that body he requested, If the condl-
ton of the States finances will admit of
it. to make an appropriation to carry out
the provisions of the act.
EMPLOYERS LIAEJL1TY.
The House Committee on Courts met
last night 10 consider Legislation defining
employers liability. There were two
measures for consideration. Mr. Parks
was the patron of one and A1r. A1cRae OF
the other. MIR. Parks presented q supstl-
tuie for the act he originally introduced.
The principal change was to make trus-
tees, receivers, mortgages or persons act
ing in any other fiduciary capacity Tor a
railroad company, liable for injuries re-
ccived by an cmploye as the result OF The
negligence Of a felow-servant the amount
of damages awarded to come out OF the
funds to the credit of such company.
Captain Parks spoke for about halt an
hour on the necessity Of such 81 law. he
said he did not wish to be harsh on Inc
railroads, but they enjoyed great privl-
leses and their employees should be given
ampie protection. The confusion by
reason Of the decisions of courts and the
unwilinsness Of railroad companies to set
tie cases by the principles of the common
law were advanced as reasons Why there
should be statutory law on this subject.
Mr.. Pillow, representing the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, advocated Ing
massage of the act. He called the atte!l-
ton of the committee to the figures ofrthe
railroad companies in this State, which
show Il large increase in the number OF
reop!e injured on railroads. ,Ilherc were
nearly / AGO crippled in Virginia last year,
according to the report OF the Ral.foad
Comm 's=ioner In States where laws sim
liar to the one proposed had been enacted,
there had been a large decrease in the
number of injured. Mr.. Pillow said $4,000
railroad employees wanted this bill passed
MIR. AI'RAE's POSITION.
o1r. N1cRae found fault with the Parks
bill. He said It was SO radical i'll lis pro-
visions it would have been just as we'll 10
provide that tie rail- Dad compan -es should
nay for every man killed or injured, no
matter how the death or injury were
caused In his bill he had attempted TO
protect the interests OF railroad companies
and, employees. HIS measure was modelled
after the slist statute and the laws
in force in Massachusetts and Alabama
Mr.. C. v. Meredith, who was expected to
sneak for the Parks bill. was unable to be
present Messrs. w. "A. Glasgow, Jr, and
4. p Thom, representing railroad inter-:
ests, wanted time to examine the bill ana
the committee decided TO postpone further
consideration of the subject Until Monday
night.
GOOD ADVICE TO NEGROES.
senator Philip v. Cosbill of Chester.
field, has received letters from many OF
his colored constituents asking 10 oppose
the so-caled Jim Crow" car bill He has.
made reply to these communications III a
letter in which he states the reasons tlla.
actuate those who favor, this act. His let.
ter is as follows:
- January IL. 1860
.AIessrs. James E. Smith and Others,
Granite, Va:
Dear sirs-I received your petition cons
cerning the serarate car bill. Improperly
called the "Jim Grow car bill.'' 7 am
satisfied the Scolored people misundersta nd
or are misled about this matter. as
sure YOU l would not vote for any meas
-ure that would take from the colored
man any right that he has, or do any
thing that would degrade him.. Ny
whole life has Eeen one of friendship for
him.. and Il have aided him on every
proper occasion. as my colcred friends
stand the bill, it Is in the interest Of
peace and good feeling between the.
races It cannot be- denied that much
friction has been caused by the con-
duct Of some co,ored PEOPLE on railroad
trains, and the result is that many
white men Of the kindest feelings to-s
wards colored people have become enl-s
sbittered; and this feeling is growing. to.
the detr.ment of the colored race. The
bill seems absolutely necessary for the
preservation and good will between the
races. The colored people will have ac-S
stected from disorderlys persons. Coloreds
people are sometimes rudelY treated by
zill-mannered persons Of both races. The