Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-04-07
One VOTE AGAINST IT
Employers Liability Bill is Passed
by House.
MEASURE SENT TO SENATE
Mr.. DOllivsr Will Call it Up at an
Early Date.
PAYNE DEEOUECEs DEMOCB ITS
Minority Claim for Credit ss.
Not Valid. d
WHAT THE BILL PRO a
II Holds Common Carriers Liable =
Damages for Personal injury am ,
Redefines COntrIbutary
Negligence.

WASHINGTON, April 6.-With only ono
vote recorded against It, that of Mr.. Little
field of Maine, the house Of representa-
tlvcs today under suspension of the rules
passed the sterling employers liability bill
after forty minutes debate.
In brief the bill establishes the doctrine
that the railroad companies engaged In
Interstate commerce are liable for personal
Injuries received by employees in the serv-
ice OF such carriers. II abOlishes the strict
common law rule of liability, which bars
recovery for the personal injury or death
hf an employe occasioned by tho negli-
renee of a fellow servant. 1t also relaXes
,he common law rule which makes con-
tributory negligence defense to claims
tor such Injuries. A provision, however,
diminishes the amount of the recovery In
the same degree that the negligence of the
injured one contributed TO the injury. The
bill further makes each party responsible
for his own negligence and requires each
to bear the burden thereof.
RfII Sent 20 senate.
The hill as passe dby the house was
transmitted to the senate later I'm the day
aid on motion of Senator Dollver was laid
on the table subject TO being called up at
any time. Mr.. Dolliver explained that the
bill is quite similar to the measure re-
ported to the senate from the committee
IN education and labor. Mr.. Dolliver con
templates asking the senate to agree to
take UP the bill at an early day. He will
probably move to substitute the sepate
measure for the house bill, and after the
senate acts will then leave to conference
the task of agreeing upon compromise
measure.
The house bill is much more sweeping
than the senate bill, as IL applies TO "all
common carriers" while the senate bill
applies only TO common carriers by rail-
road"
In the debate the minority leader, Mr..
Williams. said he welcomed the oppor-
tunity to illustrate to the country how
quickly and how rapidly we can join In
passing remedial legislation
The democrats applauded the statement.
Continuing, Mr. williams said the demo-
Gratis would be glad 10 be FURNISHED with
more like'it and to repesc the illustration
as each remedial bill is furnished to the
house. at was" he said, ''the first en-
couragement in some time"
Payne Denounces Democrats.
Mr.. Payne denounced the democrats, led
by Mr. Williams for delaying by half an
hour the passage of the bill by forcing a
roll can on the approval OF the Journal
THE gentleman from Mississippi he
said, seems to think he will make the
country believe that because every time
he says; 4 say this to the house and to
the country he can make the country be-
lieve that the way to facilitate legislation
is by the useless demand for roll calls and
delay in performing the functions Of the
house and in passing the supply bills that
must be passed
He declared that Mr.. Williams had no
more to do with the bringing about of the
report from the committee or the cons.dera-
tion OF the measure than the boys on the
street II has been. he said, the settled pur-
pose OF the majority 70 hrine the bill before
congress. MIR. Payne e.ed the bill would
meet the same fate With the supreme court
as aid the former law, but lie said he would
vote for t., nevertheless, as he had voted
for the previous bill.
And" he1 added, I'VE win go on with
the legislation of this country and the ma
jority will decide in its own time and with
out any let and hindrance from the gentle
man from Mississippi and the voting trust
which It Is reported he organized last
Saturday 20 stop legislation"
The republicans would go on just the
same, he said, and write in the statute
books Just what they desired TO write The
bill passed by a viva voce vote. but in
order that members might be recorded the
yeas and nays were ordered.