Evening journal., 1908-05-02
RAILWAY FOLK
AT A RECEPTION
Organized Blue Hens
Auxiliary Lodge Enter
tanned Last Night
BY THE BROTHERHOOD OF
FIREMEN AND ENGINEMEN

The big auditorium OF the New-century
Club was thronged with railroad men and
their wives and daughters last night,
when a reception was given by Delaware
Lodge. Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fire
men and Englnemen to the members OF
Blue Hens Lodge. a women's auxiliary to
Delaware Lodge, which was organized
yesterday. and TO the officers Of Columbia
Lodge. Of Columbia, Pa, by whom the
auxiliary was organized. The affair was
noteworthy success.
Mayor Wilson was TO have made the adj
dress Of welcome, but he was not able TO
attend. Frank p. Sergeant Of Washing
ton, d. c., former Grand Master Of Firo-
men, now commissioner OF immigration.
and william W. Knowles. the well-known
lawyer, were the speakers. r. A. Ham
mond. treasurer Of Delaware Lodge. nre-
sided and welcomed the visitors In the
intervals Of speechmaking Miss Hllda
X. Hickman played plano solo and
Mrs. Christopher Kaufman sang. Follow
ing the speechmaking, refreshments we're
served IN the dining rooms OF the club,
after which dancing was enjoyed In the
auditorium until late hour
Mr.. Sergeants address was wholly COM
pilmentary to the members OF the newly
formed Blue Hens Lodge and to the Of
hcers Of Columbia Lodge for their oxcel-
lent installation exercises.
Address by w. w. Knowles.
Mr. Knowles made the principal ad-
dress an interesting commentary on the
Employers Liability Bnl,p which be-
came law on April %. Among some Of
the provisions OF the law Mr. Knowles
mentioned the destruction OF "the absurd
and monstrous" doctrine Of the negligence
OF the fellow servant and It's giving the
power to the injured employe of an inter-
state traffic corporation bringing suit
within two years after the date of in
jury. Mr. Knowles said:
THE law provides that contributory
negligence on the part Of the servant
shall not be a bar TO recovery. but in
such cases the jury is to diminish the
amount OF damages IN proportion to
the negligence attributed 70 the suing
employe. The law further makes null
and void any contract rule or devise
between the common carrier by rail-
roads and It's servant whereby the cor
may be exempt from liability
In case OF injuries sustained by a SER
want However. the railroad viii have
the right to set off against the amount
paid for damages, for injuries 70 any
servant any sum II might have paid
IN the way OF relief 70 the injured em-
ploye on account Of injury or death
for which the action at law Is brought.
viii Fgove a Blessing
"This is a great and beneficial law
a law for which the present Congress
and the President are entitled to great
thanks. It will not only prove a great
blessing 70 those who are engaged in
hazardous occupation by railroads and
those who are dependent upon them,
but II VIII tend TO improve the service
to lessen injuries and to decrease the
number OF killed of the great army Of
the employed.
Il think IL win demonstrate in its
beneficial results substantially the
same as the Safety Appliance Act, and
all railroad men know full well the
great blessings that have come not
only 20 the servants OF the corpora
tions. but 70 the travelling public from
that act. Thousands upon thousands
have been saved annually through the
enforcement OF the provisions OF this
law, and the Employers Liability Act
recently passed by Congress will prove.
am satisfied, almost a similar bless
ing before Il is In operation for long
But the Employers Liability Act
falls short OF reaching the desired end
in that II does not cover cases OF in
juries sustained upon railroads engag-
ed fntra-state traffic OF course Cone
gress would not have the power to pass
a law giving 70 the injured person the
right to recover damages IN such cases.
However, the State Legislatures should
at the earliest opportunity supplement
the Federal Employers Liability ACT
by the embodiment into the State law
Of a similar measure. There IS no goo
reason why a person should not re-
ceive damages for injuries while en-
gagged in the service OF intra-state
traffic. In time some act on the part
Of the State Legislatures must be done
in order that the whole program Of