The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-01-18
WHO PAYS FOR JOE'S LEcl

So the rich said Joe when Bin loads up the wagon
with YOU GO along with him" And Joe did he
told, because that was what he paid to do
But Bill loaded the wagon heavily and it broke down
and threw Joe and fractured his leg.
Joe simple minded boy His leg had been broken
while he obeying orders and Bill had been
less nc hadn't selected Bill Tor job They both work
ing Tor the rich man, and seemed Joe that the rich
ought to do the right thing by HIM and when he wouIdn,
Joe to the
Then the be-sigged and begowued iudge-Lord Abinger
his was. because this story-frowned down
the butcher boy aud he said What's all this hey2"
And Joe said Il did what my employer told do aud
had my leg broken"
Then, why didn't you refuse to do it, demanded tho
judge.
III | had I'd have been discharged" said Joe
well If you'd rather break your leg than be discharged
it's your fault" said the judge Anybody ought know
that"
This seemed pretty subtle to Joe bu, he couldn't think OF
anything say back he lost his and kept his mouth
shut But somehow didn't right justice either. all
the TO Joe it of figured out like this
"My boss hires | sober. competent. careful and
steady. like my job. Jobs Ny boss then hires
careless, reckless gaoot work with feel there
will be something doing the way OF accidents but il get
hurt through the mans agency there is employers
liability. damages. because the Is
my fellow servant fellow workman Its up lose
job and my leg take chance saving losing
both job and leg Clearly Lord Abnge have my leg
go with my job
So Lord Abngers decision was printed in law book and
became what the lawyers and judges call precedent
leading No heard such thing before
parliament had enacted such law but just because
Judge happened think that way became English
Joe's tired about 80 years ago. and the next
yeas. in South Carolina, there similar where rail-
way fireman injured through the negligence OF eng
The railroads pay lawyers watch or just such things
Judge Abugers decision II they hadn't the little lawsuit
about oes leg would have been carefully fully written
up for the law books.
They read Of big calibound book South Caro-.
lima Judge and explained how Judge Abnger was the
South Carolina chap really didn't have the disagree
with his lordshp opinion So the fremans thrown
out and though city council state legislature
had heard OF such thing this became American
law
The people of England heard about Joe's leg and Job
There was quite and parliament got its pondeous
ehnery working. and Lord Abnges was declared
to be the law of England.
The big lawyers Of all nations deeply in love with
the case and they all tried their judges France rejected
it. So did Italy German courts modified that the en-
poye has to be pretty careful what happens to his men
One by the states OF the Union got busy Every time
he bill up in any capitol was big lobby OF
sleeklooking men hand but in spite of all egsla
lures expressed in statutory considerable contempt for
his lordships theory.
But state legislation isn't the thing so people who
didn't wear silk hats began ask congress for United States
law the subject
why shouldn't congress make law" they argued, "and
let employers know that OF their business when
OF their employees allows another be MANNED killed.
Why should lag along behind all the Of the world just
because English judge in 1887 told butchers boy that it
was his own fault when his leg was brokenr
1t takes good deal congress 1t takes lot OF
public sentiment. But the house and passed the bill
and the president signed it. That made law Over the
ixft
No rnser what congress and president may say a law
ism lsw until the supreme court gets whack it,
But it close squeak There nine judges on the
Cn'sd states court -Four thought Joe had right
tn De p@sssd ia the enjoyment Of both leg job five
th"Ysshd must be sish~r leg job. So there YOU
EnsIan4s parliament has said the English Judge. udg-
good oss France and Germany all
tbs have decided Jo favor Congress the pves,
dent sd our Judges have taken Joe. side but
extra jodgH has siehrd the whole thing
So thai. the atory OF fellow servant" and employers
liability