The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-11-03
EMPLOYERS LIAsILlTy GILL
Public Hearing on Measure Intro
duced by Senator Gordon

AANN@ - ~~-H--~~f
MONTPELIER. Nov. "a public hear
ing was given Tuesday evening in
Representatives hall on the employ
ers' liability bill introduced in the
Senate by Senator John W. Gordon
of Barre. Daniel Sullivan of Barre
member Of legislative committee
from the State Federation Of Labor
spoke in favor of the bill. He char
acterizerd the aw now in force as
cruel and unjust and framed wholly
in the interests of the employer. He
quoted from a recent speech made by
Theodore Roosevelt in which he
championed employers liability and
in closing said all the men and wom-
en- of the state ask is eqality before
the law and he believed the bill "a
question a step in the right direc-
ton.
! James Cruickshank of Barre also
advocated the bill now before the
committee. He pointed out the in
justice of the common law He be-
ieves the bill under discussion would
affect the farmer but slightly, if at
all, but in the various industries of
the state it is different The bill be
fore the committee supplies a rem
edy. He called the attention of the
committee to the fact that the re-
publican and democratic parties OF
the state are pledged TO such a meas
ure lie believed that the promise
will be redeemed
John H. Senter Of Montpelier be-
10. xf "a -fn
a debt Of gratitude to Senator Cor
don for The very admirable bill he
has drawn. Mr.. Senter pointed out
the features of the bi that he ap
proved and criticised the compare
tive negligence clause in the bill
This bill should be passed not be
cause a political party has promised
to pass it, but because it is right and
Just ard because the people demand
IT, Senator Gordon read an agree
mIt signed by representatives OF
the manufacturers and labor unions oi
Barre who outlined the principal fea
lures Of his bill
S l1Ollisler Jackson of Barre com
pared conditions in this country ant
IN other countries that have q work
mans compensatory act, and declar
ed that he believed the logical con
clusion in the matter now under dis
cussiOn is a worlmans compensation
act like the one now in force in New
York. Mr. Jackson did not believe ;
compulsory action could be passed
and put in force until the constitut
ion of the state is changed He be
lieved that the employers of labo
and the laboring men OF this STATE
would prefer a workman's compensa
ton act
r. A. Cook Of Newport appearel
p facetiously as a representative of tn
lawyers and farmers of Vermont VIII
oppose this bill II you pass an
such Jaw you win rob the lawyers O
! their business. The farmers are OF
posed TO this law by n black clou
S and will vote against It but the argl
meut that the farmers will be IN daI
. ger Of unjust discrimination is a
bosh Mr. Cook earnestly advocate
the bill
George II Bickford Of the WOOD
bury Granite company discussed tn
b bill from the standpoint of the maj
ufacturer This bill puts the mani
featuring interests Of Vermont on tn
defensive. It puts them in the gui
~ class. The legislature cannot a
c ford to thus handicap the manufa
Jurors Of Vermont Mr. Bckford di
not object to q liability law that sha
he fair 70 both employer AID CT
plcye- The common law considers
Il man innocent until he is found gui
~ This bin makes manufactur,
guilty until he IS proved innocen
~ Senator Gordon answered some of n
Bickfords arguments
r The attendance at the hearing WI
w.. very large showing the interest ia
en- in this bill.