Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-02
WITHOUT A DIVISION
Personal Liability Bill Passed
by the House.
IN EMPLOYEES INTERESTS
Measure Applies to Those Engaged in
Extra Hazardous Work.
CHANGES THE COMMON LAW
Attendance Fell OF So That Sergeant
alarms Was Sent to summon
the Absentees.
Y EMPLOYEES INTERESTS
CHANGES THE COMMON LAW

The personal liability bill passed the
House OF Representatives today without
division.
This being suspension day In the House
there was large attendance of members
when that body convened
The pension appropriation bill was sent to
conference with Messrs Gardner (Mich. !.
Brownlow tTenn.) and Sullivan {Mass.1 as
conferees.
Inc naval academy hazing bill conference
report was adopted.
The personal Inability bill. so called was
taken up Mr.. Sterling Qll) stating it's fea-
lures Mr. Sterling said he did not believe
the bill would apply to "hostlers" In round
houses or those engaged in the ordinary
work ABOUT shops. but to those who oper-
ated trains and engaged in extra hazardous
work associated with railroads
Mr.. Driscoll On. " in explaining an
amendment which he offered stated that it
was to provide a rule of damages and for
the distribution of the sums recovered
Mr.. Crumpacker Und) said that the hill
contained one section modifying the COM
mon law rule of comparative negligence
Ihat comparative negligence introduced
into case metaphysical speculative
IDEA impossible for judge to control" and
IN MS opinion 1t was dangerous PROPOSE
ton.
Mr. Parker On. j. and Mr.. Keller (ohio)
opposed the bill.
In Force In Many States.
This Is law that Is in force In many
foreign nations and In many states of the
Union" said Mr. Mann 0ll) There
were 931 railroad employees killed last year
and 1880 injured on the railroads of the
United States. The best way to protect the
public Is to make the railroad nay for the
sleepy engineer who has worked for twenty
hours and by reason Of this ovetwGi'k In
jury results. This bill meets with tho ap-
prevail of the railway employees, and l am
for what they want. I believe the bill is in
the right direction"
The bill was supported by Mr.. Her. ry
TEX Mr.. Williams (Miss) and Mr. Bart
Mr.. Flood Va.> said that In his state they
had placed the thought in the constitution.
and he believed 1t a most wise and just
measure.
Mr.. Sterling Ull.) said the purpose Of the
bill was to give relief from the rigors of
the common law
The bin. he said, was to change the COM
mon law liability Of employers of labor in
this line of employment for personal Injuries
received by employees In the service 1t re-
lakes the strict common law rule of liza
bility which bars a recovery of damages
for the personal injury or death of an en-
pIoye occasioned by the negligence of a
feilow-seryant The bill makes both parties
responsible for their own negligence It
Also renders void any contract intended to
restrict the liability of the employer for the
negligence of the employee.
The Bill Passed.
The bill was passed without division
Mr. Needham (Cal) then called up the
bill amending existing laws relating to the
fertilization of pure sweet wines.
Mr.. Clark (Mo) demanded a second
There were eighty-three ayes and twenty
noes.
Mr.. Clark raised the point of no quorum
and the Speaker could not count a quorum.
The doors were ordered closed and the SER
geant alarms was ordered to bring in the
absenteeS.