The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-13
EMPLOYERS
LIABILITY
Senator Gordon introduced
Important Bill Today
MODELLED ON FEDERAL LAW
1t Abolishes Fellow Servant Doctrine.
A United States Senator Is to
Be Elected on Tuesday,
October Is.

A twenty-five minute session in the
House and one but little longer in the
Senate constituted the legislatures rec.
ord for work this morning. But in those
brief sessions several important bills
were introduced, chief of which was an
employers liability bill, introduced in
the Senate by Senator Gordon Of Wash
ington. The bill is entitled an act re.
lating to the liability of employers to
employees, and it was referred to the
Judiciary committee.
The bill changes what little existing
law the state has on the subject, in
several important points. It abolishes
the fellow servant doctrine and changes
that statute Of contributory negligence,
whereby an employe is now estopped
from recovering damages, so that he may
recover in case Of his negligence in the
proportion to which his negligence bears
to that Of the employer. The rule of
evidence is changed so that the matter
of contributory negligence and assump-
tiou is a matter OF defense The burden
of proof on these points now rests on
the plaintiff.
The present law is changed so that If
an accident occurs which is the result
of the violation by the employer of any
statute providing for the safety OF the
employe, there can be no defense of con-
tributory negligence. The amount OF
recovery in the case Of an accident re-
sulting in death is placed at $1,000 on
the first verdict, with no limit on the
amount OF a second verdict This was
done to discourage litigation on appeals.
The bill provides that no action shall
be brought unless within two years of
the time of the accident or in case of
death or mental incapacity within two
years of the appointment of an admin
istrator The law is along the line of
the federal statute and goes to the same
extent.
The matter Of the proposed eonstitu-
tional amendments was also brought to
the attention OF the Senate By Senator
Gordon, who moved that committee
OF seven senators be appointed by the
president to take up the matter.
Senator Archibald OF Bennington in
troduced the necessary resolution for the
election OF a United States senator,
which will come on October Is.
Other bills introduced in the Senate
were two by Senator Archibald, au-
thorizing the Vermont Valley and the
Connecticut River railroads to hold stock
in other railroads, and another by Sem
ator Archibald amending the law relat-
ing to final appeals from the decision
of listers.
In the House the following bills were
Fl. 5, by Mr. Webster of Swanton-
relating to seining in Lake Champlain
PERMITS seining from Oct. ] to Dec. |
Of each year Fish and game commits
sioner to issue licenses; fee not to ex-
ceed $40 Referred to joint committee
on game and fisheries.l
II. 0. by Mr.. McCuen of Yergennes,
to amend section 1852 Of the public stat
utes, relating TO free transportation.
( Permits railroads Of the state to ex-
change mileage books for advertising
space in the newspapers OF the state,
at regular published card rates. includes
publication of timetables and other bona
fde advertising matter as deemed prop.
err; permits the carrying Of fire COM
panies and their equipment free, or at
special or reduced rate in case OF eonfa-
grafton. Referred to committee on rail
roads.
II. 7. by Mr.. Sternberg Of Stannard,
amending section 1921 of the public stat
ites. [Prohihits the hunting or taking
of deer between p. m. and a. N.
Referred to joint committee on game and
H. s, by Mr.. Webster of Swanton. to
amend section 2 of No. l33 OF 1908.
relating to sales Of liquor by licensees of
The second OF seventh class. PERMITS
deliveries to common carriers. Referred
10 joint committee on temperance
Joint resolutions were introduced in
The House, providing for joint assem-
bly tomorrow morning to hear the re-
port of the committee to canvass votes
Tor county officers and another assembly
N the afternoon to listen to the report
lf the committee to canvass votes for
The resolution for the election of
Cnited States senator was introduced in
The House by Mr.. Barrows of Johnson.
As is generally understood, there is no
opposition to the reelection of Senator
Page. and the election will simply be
N the nature of a shower party Tor the
senator,
Gov. Mead has to-day reappointed the
members of the tercentenary commits ]
sion, with the exception, Of course, Of ex.
Gov Prouty, whose place Gov Mead
axes bv virtue Of his office This move
S made necessary by the unfinished bust |
ness, such as the building of the Cham !
plain memorial, which the commission
las been unable to complete 1t has
N its hands a considerable sum of mon
". which will be used for the memo
-ial
Members OF the commission appointed I
.o-day to investigate the system Of book /.
keeping in the state treasurer's Office /
IRE Senators Clark and Scribner and /
Jones Of Sheffield. Chaffee I
IF Rutland City and Cave Of Barre |
City.
Fletcher