Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-07
A RADICAL CHANGE
10 the System Of Indenl-
nifty to Injured Employees
Is Contemplated in Bill Now
Pending Before Congress.
Would Require Employers 10 Settle
According to Fixed Schedule.

Washington, Feb. 6.-One Of the most
radical pieces of proposed legislation
before the present Congress and one
which heretofore has not occupied any
great amount of attention, is now be-
ing given serious consideration by the
judiciary committee of the House and
a hearing on it has been ordered for
Feb. II, to which practically all of the
prominent railroad men of the coun-
try have been invited. 1t is the bill in
PRODUCED by Rep. SABBATH, DEM, OF H.,
which would require all persons car
rying on occupations and trades sub
ject TO the regulative power Of Con-
gress," including railroads, express
companies and sleeping car companies,
to pay compensation on fixed basis to
injured employees. The legislation II
enacted would overturn the present
employers liability law and in fact.
revClutionize the existing system OF
indemnity for personal injuries.
The bill defines the amount of COM
pensation to be paid by employers to
employees, in cases of injury or death,
basing upon the amount of the pre-
vious earning power OF the vic,,m u,id
provides that it shall be paid in the
form of annuity. The bill is based
upon the existing laws of England and
Germany. Such legislation was favor
Ell in one of the messages of former
President Roosevelt and President Taft
also is said to have commented favor
ably upon it.
Representative Moon of Pennsyiva-
nia. chairman of the subcommittee OF
the judiciary committee, says of the
bill in a letter which he has sent to
officials of the leading railroads:
1T eliminates entirely all common
law CT statutory defences based upon
TIE principles of contributory or COM
parative negligence of co-employes and
fer risk of employment and subjects
the common carrier to a fixed and def
mite liability for injury or death to
employees, without regard to the negli-
gence of the defendant.
1T substitutes statutory compensaI
ton for common law liability and
makes this compensation distinct
element of operating expenses.
This bill is being vigorously pushed
by its promoters"
The bill is applicable to railroad and
companies engaged in inter.
state or foreign commerce and to any
company engaged in any capacity in
the mails of the United States.
Even the United States government
would be bound under it's terms to pay
to it's employees in the
postal service injured or killed in the
of their duties.
In the event of the death of an en-"
ploye as a result of injuries, employers
would be required to pay an annuity
euualing 20 per cent. of his average
earnings to his family or next
of kin. Fifty per cent. of the employees
maximum monthIv earn'~~~ would he
paid in case of total disability NOT sxs
ceeding six montns. ~, onu mat
length of time, the injured employee
would receive two-thirds of the amount
Of his earnings, during the period of
The measure goes into the minutest
detail in regulating the payment for
injuries. specifying how much shall be
pad for the loss of any 'nembec or the
impairment of any faculty, including
and hospital treatment. The
loss of toe for instance. Is fixed at s
per cent. The loss Of both eyes at rs
per cent. the loss of the right hand at
50 per cent.
Inc Dill would establish a court. 10
be known as the federal commission OF
injury awards, to consist Of three MEM
bers to be Amounted by the President
at salaries Of $4,000 per year each, with
Iull aufh' rityro inquire INTO and prose-
cute claims and to employ necessary
as sistants