Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-02-24

Washington, D. C.Feb... 1910
Stripped of all concealment. a lobby
of lawyers in the pay of several OF the
largest employing corporations in
America have appeared before the
House judiciary Committee and prac-
ticaily defied Congress to pass any
employers liability bill framed to IN
sure workmen and their families
against injury or death. NJ;
Representative Sabath'e bill, stand
ardizing the amount OF damages due
to injured workmen, forced the fight
to an issue. General Solicitor Reath.
Of the Norfolk and Western Rail-
road; Russell H. Loines, attorney for
the American and Hawaiian, New
York and Porto Rico steam ship lines
and score of other notable lawyers
could hardly find words in their legal
vocabularies with which to- denounce
this socialistic attempt to destroy
the constitutional right of contract.
The words of Representative
SABBATH in answer to the corporation
lawyers were such as to fix the tense
attention of every listener.
When it is remembered" said
the Illinois Representative, that we
hold our property, In the last instance
through the f0rbearance and self
control of the vast class of persons
who are at risk day by day, and who,
were they united, could, rendHand
tear not only our possessions, but our
very bodies, it is surprising to see the
dense carlessness of the possessig
community before this great. had
almost said class; but there are no
classes in America; at least, 1t so
claimed
At the time when the law OF mas
ter and servant received the form
which we are now contending Is ut
terly unjust, the industries were
just beginning to receive the behifi-
cent effect of the application Of steam
to machinery heretofore driven by
human hands. Today all this is
changed -
GOmpers keen listener.
By the side of SABBATH sat Samuel
Gompers, a keen listener to every
word that fell from, the speaker
lips. The committee room pulsat-
ed with the concentrated antagon-
ism of these great waring bodies,
labor and capital.
The Courts will say that the Ia
4~oorer is Free" continued SABBATH ;
that he chooses his occupation; that
II he takes up dangerous occupa-
ton, he takes the risk-he does 1t
with his eyes open: he Is compensated
for it, and his wages in part may be-
II properly employed in buying in
surance in some industrial or &C
cldent corporation to compensate
MIN for the risk which he Is bound
to take.
Is, 1t not truism, which must on.
" be stated to be understood, that
me choice Of freedom of the laborerf
is entirely illusory; that they have
no choice; that the fiction which
claims to treat them as free agents Il
overcome by the actualities Of theil
conditions. which makes wage slaves
q them all; that the wages are &C
small and purchase so little that
adequate seif-insurance Is impos'
sible?sa
The Chairman of the committee
Judge Richard Wayne Parker. Of New
Jersey. saw an opportunity, newell
missed by a cannon appointee. ant
seized 1t with a genial smile or gen.
eral Cancellation.
Chairman Tries to Delay.
Would it not be in order to de
Ter further consideration OF this bill
until we receive a report from the
commission which is about to pro.
cure information regarding thost
KILLED and dis abled in the industria
trades in the United Statesf set
Mr. Gompers present; does be no
mink this the most practical methot
OF procedure?"
Several Of the committeeman wer,
prompt In their approval Of the chair