The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-07
MPLOYES TO
GET HEARING

Washington, D. c.. Feb. Cone oil
The most radical pieces oil proposed
leqJsIation before the present congress
and one which heretofore has not oc-
cunIed much attention, Is now beng
given serious consideration by the Ju-
dietary committee OF the house and
beorInr on It has been ordered Tor
February II, 10 which a number oil
nrominent railroGd men OF the coun-
Try have been invited.
II Is the bill introduced by Repre-,
sentative Sabnth OF Illinois. which
will REQUIRE all persons carrying on
occupations and trades subject TO the
regllatIye power of congress, includ-
inC railroads, express companies and
slccnlnc car companies, to pay COM
pensntion on fixed basis TO injured EN-.
ployes. The legislation, If enacted,
would overturn the present employers
liability law. and. In fact, revolution
iae the existing system OF indemnity
for personal injuries The bill de-
fines the amount of compensation to
DE paid by employers to employees. in
cases OF injury or death, basing IL
upon the amount OF the previous earn
ing power Of the victim and provided
that 1t shall be paid in the form OF an
annuity.
The bill Is based upon the laws OF
England and Germany. Such legisla-
tion was favored In one of the mes
sages Of former President Roosevelt,
and President Taft also is said to
have commented favorably upon it.
Noon Analyses Bill.
Representative Moon OF Pennsyl-
Yania. chairman of the subcommittee
OF the judiciary committee. analyses
the bill in a letter which he has sent
to officials OF leading railroads. Mr.
Moon says. In part:
You viii observe this bill, both by
fits tide and its scope. aims at the en-
tire overthrow of the existing prin-
cIples of law respecting the liability
OF common carriers engaged in inter-
state commerce and In the carrying OF
the mails. TO their employees for acts
of negligence resulting in injury or
death
1t eliminates entirely all common
law or statutory defenses based upon
the principles of cmtributory or COM
parative negligence. the existing doc
tlne OF negligence of co-employes and
OF risk OF employment, and subjects !
the common carrier 10 a fixed and |
definite liability for injury OF death |
to employees without regard TO the |
negligence OF the defendant
Being Vigorously Pushed.
1T substitutes statutory Compensa-
tion for common law liability and |
makes this compensation a distinct |
element of operating expenses.
This bill Ia being vigorously push
cd by its promoters. One hearing al
ready has been had by the sub-com-
mittec. The hearing was confined en-
tIrely 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 II enacted into law. would impose |
an obligation upon common carriers |
OF the country engaged In interstate
commerce so different from that al |
ready existing, that the committee |
would not be justified in passing upon
IL without afording an opportunity to |
them To bo heard.
SABBATH. the Author.
I'm pursuance OF this action, we |
have postponed the hearing until |
Thursday, February Il, at 1879 a.
M, at which time and place 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
giving 1t the most careful consldera.
ton.
Mr., SABBATH, author Of the bill, has
been working on the idea for a num-
Der of years. and has carried on a gen.
eral propaganda in Its favor He an
nounced at recent hearing on this
bill that, when It was enacted into
law. he was ready TO retro from pub
JIG life. satisfied with his achieve
menta
The bill is applicable to railroad
and steamship companies engaged In
Interstate or foreign commerce and to
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.
pensalon to Its employees In the pos.
tal service injured or killed In the per.
Sormance OF their duties.