Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-10-20
Motion to Strike Ci,t a Rule
Starts Lively Debate in
House over Small Matter.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY BILL
Measure Introduced by Senator
Gordon Il Modelled after Fed
eral Etatutc-No Change
in Deer Law Probable.

Montpelier. oct. l3.--The desire of some
members OF the Legislature to adjourn
Tomorrow morning over sunday was
blocked to-day by the introduction and
adoption Of two joint resolutions pro-
viding for joint assemblies tomorrow in
the forenoon to hear the r.port of the
Joint oanVassnE committee to canvass
votes for cotnty officers. Judges of pro-
bate. and justices Of the peace. and to-
morrow afternoon FOR a joint assembly
:" hear the report of the Joint canvassing
committee to canvass votes for members
of Congress
several important bills were introduced
IN the House this morning and referred
70 the proper committees Mr.. McCuen
Of Neracnnes Introduced a measure
"hioh Is of interest to the ncwspap crs
OF the state. IT amends the present
statute relating to free transportation by
allowing the railroads of the state to cX-
'hanse mileage books for advertising
Spac" IN the newspapers at regular pub
'ished card rates. The Joint committee or
Fam" ana fisheries had placed in It's
"ands two bills, one introduced by Mr.
Sioinhurg OF Stannard which prohibits
'he hunting or taking of deer in the open
season between ps> IN. and : a. m and
on" BY Mr.. Webster of Swanton which
permits scnirg in Lake Champaign from
october ! to december of each year
IN" license fee for the same not to ex-
/ coed so.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY BILL.
The session to-day in the Senate were
brief and uneventrul save for the intro
duction of one Of the very important
bills Of the session, tho employers liza
| blity law, which came from Senator
| Gordon of W Washington county. The pro-
| posed law is modelled after the federal
law on the subject and goes to about the
same cXtent in safeguarding the rights
Of the employee that that law does. Here
Is the fun text Of the bill:
| section Am employer shall he liable
to his employc. or. in the case of such
cinrioyc's death. this personal repre-
tentative for the benefit Of the surviving
wife or husband and next of kin. in
damages for all personal injuries which
result from the negligence of the en-
ployer his Officers. agents. or employees;
! ana the fact that the employe may have
! "een guilty of cCntrihutory negligence
snail not bar recovery, when his negli-
| a'nce WAS slight and that OF hts en-
'loyer was gross in comparison. but the
/ damage shall be diminished BY the Jury
! IN proportion to the amount of the negli-
g"nce attributable to the injured en-
pl"yt; ana contributory negligence and
the assumption Of risk shall be matters
~ defense and the burden Of proving the
same shall rest upon the defendant pro-
Nided that no such employe who may be
injured or killed shall he held to have
been guilty of contrlbutory negligence in
any case where the violation of such EN- =
pioyer of any statute enacted for the
safety of employees contributed to the In
jury or death Of such employe.
Section >. No contract of employment.
/ insurance. relief. benefit or indemnity for
injury or death, entered into by or In be-
| Nsl or an employc, nor the acceptance
If any such insurance, relief, benefit or
( indemnity by the person entitled thereto,
/ shall constitute bar or indemnity to an
action brought to recover damages for
personal injuries in, or death of, such
emplove' provided. however. that upon
the trial Of such action the defendant
| may ret off therein any sum he has con-
! trihuled toward such Insurance, relief,
1 benefit or indemnity that may have been
paid to the injured employe, or, In case
| of his death of his personal representa-
| tive
| Section g. In case such employee is
killed. the jur. shall not in their frst
verdict in any given action ASSESS dam
ages in excess of 5000. but subsequent
verdlcts In a given case shall not be sub
joct to the Limitation of 5000
Section 4. No action shall be main
tanned under this act unless commenced
within two years from the time tho ac-
ton accrued. or. In case of death or men,
tai incapacity, within two years from the
appointment of guardian or administra-
tor.
Section &, This act shall take efrec,
from it's passage
AMOUNT LIMITED TO 5000
feature of the bill that is not
embodied In other laws on the subject
is the limiting Of the amount to be re-
covered in case Of death on the FIRST
verdict to $500 and placing no limit o.,
the amount Of the second verdict Thi.
was done. the framer OF the bin says
To discourage appeals.
when House bill No !. tho bill pro
NdinE for the erecting OF county build
ings in Lamolle county, reached the
senate, II did not receive the same
prompt consideration that It did In the
(iiouse where It was passed under tn.
suspension OF the rules In the senate Il
was referred 10 the committee on State
and court expenses which viii doubtless
report 1t promptly as haste in the matter
IL urgent.