The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-12
RAILROAD NEWS.
Law Provides Annuity to RAIL
road Men for Injuries.
Proposed Measure Most Radical
Given in Congress.
PRESIDENT FAVORS 1T
Judiciary Committee Invites Of
ficials in Conference.
PRESIDENT FAVORS 1T
Other Items OF General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Zone of the
most radical pieces of proposed legis-
lation before the present congress-
and one which heretofore has not oc-
cupied much attention, is now being
given serious consideration by the jul
ciciary committee of the house, for
February II, to which number OF
prominent railroad men of the coun-
try have been invited
1t is the bill Introduced by Repre-
sentative SABBATH. of Illinois, which
will require all persons carrying on
occupations and trades subject to the
regulative power of congress" includ-
ing railroads, express companies and
sleeping car companies, to pay com
persation on a fixed basis to injured
employees. The legislation, If enacted,
would overturn the present employers
liability law, and. in fact revolution
ize the existing system of indemnity
for injuries.
The bill defines the amount of COM
pensation to be paid employers TO en-
ployes, in cases of injury or death'
basing it upon the amount OF the pre-
provides that it shall be paid in the
form of an annuity.
President Favors Bill.
The bill is based upon the laws OF
England and Germany. Such leglsla-
ton was favored in one of the mess
ages of former President Roosevelt
and President Taft is also said to have
commented favorably on it.
Representative Moon, of PennsylVa-
MIA, chairman of the subcommittee or
the judiciary committee, analyses the
bill in a letter which he has sent to
officials of leading railroads. Mr.. Moon
says in part as follows:
You will observe that this bill, both
by it's title and it's scope, aims at the
entire overthrow of the existing princi-
pies of law respecting the liability or
common carriers engaged in Interstate
commerce and in the carrying of the
mails to their employees for acts of neg
ligence resulting in injury or death.
1T eliminates entirely all common
law or statutory defenses based upon
the principles of cOntributory or COM
paratiVe negligence, the existing doc
trine of negligence of co-employes and
of risk of employment, and subjects the
common carrier to a fixed and definite
liability for injury or death to en-
ployes without regard to the negli-
gence of the defendant. 1t substitutes
statutory compensation for common law
liability and makes this compensation
It distinct element of operating expen-
ses.
Railroads Into Conference.
his Dill Is DeluS vigorously puSlACO
by it's promoters. One hearing already
has been had by the subcommittee. The
hearing was confined entirely to the
principle involved, not to details OF
the bill. The hearing developed the
fact that the change proposed by the
bill was so radical, and, if enacted into
law, would impose an obligation upon
common carriers of the country en-
gagged in interstate commerce so differ
ent from that already existing, that
the committee would not be justified in
passing upon 1t without affording an
opportunity for them to be heard.
In pursuance of this action, we have
postponed the hearing until Thursday,
February II. at 1:30 a. M, at which
time we shall be glad to hear the views
of your company upon the subject"
Mr. Moon said that his committee
had been seriously impressed by this
proposed legislation and we are Civ
Ing it the most careful considera-
ton"
Mr. SABBATH. author of the bill has
been working on the idea for num-
her of years, and has carried on a
general propaganda in its favor. He
bill that, when it was enacted into
lie life, satisfied with his achievements
Nation Also Responsible.
The bill is applicable to railroad and
steamship companies engaged in in
terstate or foreign commerce and tc
any company engaged in any capacity
in handling the mails of the United
States. Even the United States would
be bound under its terms to pay com