The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-07
NO LIABILITY
OF Employees
IF MAN Is KILLED HE GETS 20
PER CENT ANNUITY.
In Event He is Permanently Manned
He Will Get 80 Per Gent Of His
salary-Scalc of Damages.
NO ACCOUNT OF NEGLIGENCE

Washington, Feb. 7.-One OF the
most radical pieces OF proposed legis-
llation before the present congress
and one which heretofore has not
occupied any great amount OF atten-
tion, is now being given serious con-
Isideration by the judiciary committee
of the house and hearing on II has
been ordered for February II, TO
which practically all OF the prominent
railroad men in the country have
been invited.
II Is the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative SABBATH. Democrat, OF Hill
nois which would require all corpora
Itions. 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
fixed basis to injured employees. The
legislation, II enacted, would over
turn the present employers liability
law. and. in fact. revoluttonize the
|existing system OF indemnity for per-
sonal injuries
The bill defines the amount OF COM
pensation TO be paid by employers TO
employees. in cases of injury or death.
basimg II upon the amount OF the pre-
vious earning power OF the victim,
and provides that II shall be paid In
the form OF an annuity. The bill Is
based upon the existing law OF Eng
land and Germany. Such law was
favored IN one OF the messages OF
former President Roosevelt and Presl-
dent Taft Is also said 20 have COM
mented favorably upon II.
All Laws Overtbrown.
Representative Moon. Of Pennsyl-
yania. chairman OF the subcommittee
OF the judiciary committee. analyzes
the bill in letter which he has sent
to officials OF the leading railroads.
Mr. Moon sayp in part:
"You will observe this bill. both by
rs title and It's scope, aims at the en-
tire overthrow OF the existing princi-
pies 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.
"It 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 employ ment, and sub
jects the common carrier TO a fixed
and definite liability for injuries or
death to employees without regard to
the negligence OF the defendant.
Hearing Postponed.
at substitutes statutory compen-
satlon for common law liability and
makes this compensation a distinct
element Of operating expenses.
This bill Is being vigorously
pushed by its promoters. One hear
ing has already been had by the sub
committee. This hearing was con-
fined entirely to the principle in
volved. not to the details Of the bill.
The hearing developed the fact that
the change proposed by the bill was
80 radical. and II enacted into law
would impose an obligation upon the
common carriers of the country en-
gagged In interstate commerce so diff
lferent from that already existing
that the committee would not be
Justified In passing uon II without
laffording an opportunity TO them tC
be heard.
"In pursuance of this action, w
have postponed the hearing unit
Thursday, February II, at 1O:3O a
m, at which time and place We shall
be glad to hear the views OF YOU