The independent., 1907-02-14
ATTITUDE OF employees

An admirable example OF the poiiti-
cal methods of the Burlington railroad
is given in the deceptive fight 1T Is
making upon the employers liability
bill before the legislature. 1t Is not
a question in which the general pubic
is vitalIy interested, but which Is OF
grave importance to the men who work
for that railroad. The Burlington has
for years practically made it con-
dition of employment that men should
join the relief department, and con-
dition Of his joining it is that ne must
agree not to sue the company for
damages in case he is injured, If he
elects to take the insurance he has
| paid for If he chooses to sue for
DANA ges then he cannot collect his III
surance. There certainly cannot be
any justice in requiring man to pay
full value for insurance and deny him
| the right to collect it il. he chooses to
exercise the legal right to sue for dam
ages; nor to compel him to sign away
that legal right in consideration of re-
ceiving the insurance he has himself
paid full value for.
The assertions made to the effect
that the Gibson and McMulIen en-
ployers' liability bills are aimed di-
rectly at the Burlington relief de-
partment and that the passage of
either Of the measures would destroy
that mutual insurance company and
depri re old employees of insurance
after they have reached an age when
ii would be impossible for them to re-
place it are without foundation, as
can readily be seen by anyone who
viii take the trouble to examine the
measures. The Burlington d es not
object &c these bills on account Of the
effect they will have on the relief de-
partment. but on account of the ef-
feet they will have upon the road
itself Section of the Gibson bill
says.
Sec. 3. That NJ contract of employ
ment, insurance, relief benefit or in
demnity for injury or death HERE
AFTER entered into by or on behalf
Of any employe nor the acceptance of
any such insurance, relief benefit. or
indemnity by the person entitled
thereto, shall constitute any bar or
defense 10 any action brought to re-
cover damages for personal injuries
to or death Of such such einpoye;
Provided, however, That upon the
trial Of such acton against any rail-
way company the defendant may set
off any sum il has contributed toward
any such insurance relief benefit or
indemnity tnat may have been paid tn
/ the injured emplCye or, in case Of his
| death. TO his personal representative
Under the present rules of the relief
department. when money is paid to one
for personal injuries, the person receiv-
ing the same must sign receipt re-
leasing the railroad company from al
! liability The relief department is a
! mutual insurance company supported
: by the employees and at present has
, thousands of dollars In Its treasury
+ Should a member carrying si.00l
E policy be killed and the widow accep
1 the amount of the policy, she could re
G cover not cent more, no matter IL |
Y should be shown that the mans deatl
: were due TO the rankcst kind Of care
: lessness. The Gibson bill provides tina
( the money paid by the railroad com
:. pany 20 the relief fund shall be de
G Quoted from the Judgment which
/ rendered and II would seem that thl
/ would be- perfectly fair. There Ia moth
= ing wrong with the relief department 1
!. It's performance OF its proper function