The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-02-07
POSTAL EMPLOYEES WOUlOBECOmE
BfMEf|C|AR|ES UM0ER THE BILL
In Case Of Deakh the Annuity Would
Be Paid to the Next of Kin-Would
Be Based on the Income Received
When Injured.

now being given serious attention by
the judiciary committee for which
practically all the prominent railroad
men of the country have been invited.
1t is the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative SABBATH, (Dem.) of Illinois,
which would require all persons
carrying on occupations and trades
subject to the regulative power of
congress" including railroads, ex.
press companies and sleeping car
companies, to pay compensation on a
fixed basis to injured employees. The
legislation If enacted would overturn
the present employees liability law,
and In fact revolutionize the existing
system of indemnity for personal in
juries.
The bill defines the amount of COM
pensation to be paid by employers to
employees, in case of injury or death.
basing 1t upon the amount of the
previous earning power of the victim,
and provides that 1t shall be paid in
the form of all annuity.
The bill is based upon the existing
laws of England and Germany. Such
Legislation was favored in one of the
messages of former President Roose-
velt and President Taft also is said
to have commented favorably upon
1t. Representative Moon of Penn
sylvania, chairman of the subcommit-
tee of the judiciary committee, an
alyzes the bill in a letter which he
has sent to officials of the leading rail-
roads. Mr.. Moon says in part:
You will observe this bill both by
it's title and its scope, aims at. the
entire overthrow of the existing prin-
ciples of law respecting the liability
of common carriers, engaged in in
terstate commerce and in the CARRYING
of the mails, to their employees for.
ut 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 for risk of employment and sub
jects the common carrier to fixed
and definite liability for injury or
death to employees without regard to
the negligence of the defendant.
"lt substitutes statutory compensa-
tion for common law liability. and
makes this compensation a distinct
element of operating expenses.
This bill is being vigorously push
ed by it's promoters. One hearing has
been had by the subcommit-
tee. This hearing was confined en-
tirely to the principle involved. not
to the 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 i'm
pose all obligation upon the common
carriers of the country engaged in
interstate commerce so different from
that already existing that the COM
mittee would not be justified in pass
ing upon it without affording an op-
portunity to them to be heard.
I'm pursuance of this action, we
have postponed the hearing until
Thursday, February II. at 1O:3O a. M.
at which time and place we shall be
glad to hear the views of your COM
pany upon the subject"
Mr.. Moon stated that his committee
had been seriously impressed by this
proposed legislation and were giving
it the most careful consideration"
Mr.. Moon has been working on the
idea for number of years and has
carried ON general propaganda in
its favor. He announced at recent
hearing on his bill that when it was
into law, he was ready to re-
tire from public life satisfied with his
The bill is applicable to railroad
and steamship companies engaged in
interstate or foreign commerce and
to any company engaged in any capac-
ity in handling the mails of the Unit
ed States. Even the United States
would be bound under it's
terms to pay compensation to its EN-
ployes in the postal service injured
or killed in the performance of their
duties.
In the event of the death of an en-
ploye as result Of injuries. employ
ers would be required to pay an an
nuity equaling seventy per cent of his
average monthly earnings to his FAM
lily or next of kin. Fifty per cent of
the employees maximum monthly
would be paid in case of
total disability. not exceeding six
Beyond that length of time
the injured employe would receive
of the amount of his earn
ings. during the period of IMPAIR
ment.
The measure goes into the minutest
detail in regulating the payment for
Injuries, specifying how much shall
be paid for the loss of an eye, an arm.
q finger, a toe. loss or impairment of
sight. hearing or similar injury. and
medical. surgical and hospi-
tai treatment. The loss of a toe is
fixed at five per cent. The loss of
both eyes at seventy-fivs ner cent