Evening journal., 1910-05-13
MR.. BROCKSON
URGES NEW LAWS
Would Safeguard Marriage
and Divorce; Also En-
pIOyerS Liability
Changes
SPEAKER DEFENDS
EMPLOYERS SIDE

Franklin Brockson, lawer and MEM
Der Of the Legislature. in an address
before the Mems Club and Westmin-
ster Boys Club of Hanover Church
last evening, proposed the following
subjects as matters of needed legisla-
ton in this State:
/. A stricter marriage law.
>. A stricter divorce law. Mr.
Brockson considered an absence of
either party for two years as a ground
| for divorce in cases of desertion as too
short time; and thought insanity an
unjust cause for divorce.
8. Whether the state shall or shall
not give approval to the proposed
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
/ ton empowering the Federal govern
ment to levy an income tax. Mr..
Brockson said this matter. which will
come up before the next legislature,
should be approved; as under the
present law, in an emergency like war.
a man with small house dpuld be
taxed heavily while a millionaire could
go free.
4. He advocated liability law pro-
] NlulAh lNI compensation ANA RNA AeAAAi
injured in the course of duty; saying
law should be enacted to abolish the
assumption of risk. TO abolish the fell
low servant doctrine, and to substitute
comparative for contributory negli-
gence. Mr.. Brockson emphasized par-
ticularly the injustice Of no compen-
! sation for the man. or his dependents
who is injured through the fault Of a
, fellow worker The legal theory is
that man has the opportunity TO
study the men working with him, and
should complain to the superintendent
if he finds them careless. Practically,
a superintendent has not time to be
bothered with such complaints, and
nowadays men and machinery have so
increased that a man does not know
his fellow workmen. Among others,
Mr.. Brockson cited the accident at
Porter's. Del. on the p. b. and w,
where Engineer Wheatley was killed,
he claimed. through no fault OF his
own, but through the carelessness of
a fiagman, Mr. Brockson said His
widow had no legal right to recover
damages, the speaker said. Mr. Brock
son advocated either the German plan
of fund, contributed to by both em-
ployes and employers or that the em-
ployers should add the amount to the
expenses Of the business, making the
consumer pay ultimately. He consid-
cred the extra expense would make
employers more careful in supervision
of men and machinery, so that the
half million accidents each year would
be cut down one half. Employers are
taking up the question, notably the
= steel men, and the National Manufac-
1 turers' Association.
, Takes the Other Side.
Leon Walker, who presided at tho
q meeting, spoke on the employers side
e of the question from his experiences
. with men in the Pennsylvania coal
mines, saying that outside of gaseous
mines, nine out of ten accidents were
traced directly to the carelessness oi
S the man injured. In spite of all the
n employers could do TO enforce tbs
f laws, men would go into the mines
+ with pipes; or would ride up on th'
t, cage when coal was being carried up
h or would take their chances Of killing
8 themselves and others rather than taxi
= the quarter of an hour necessary Z
= prop up the overhead layers with tim
e bers when underwriting coal. The,
|. willingly risked their lives and theii
o families support for the sake of th'
Il extra ton of coal they could mine il
= that quarter-hour.
T. Mr.. Walker said the plan of adding
Is to the expenses and making the public
e nay had not worked with them. Las
% April they were obliged to increase tn
10 mems wages and 55-1O0 per cent
= but when they Increased the price o
g coal they met with objections. In cas-
It of an explosion their expenses 70
compensation might cripple them ser
iously. He thought also that the mel
would get more careless rather thal
D less so, If they knew they, OF thei
families would be provided for what
II ever happened. II the Employers Liza
bility Act could be regulated so tina
workmen and employers both contri
ie buted, he thought some solution Nigh
IN be found. but with what the advocate
r. of the act were now proposong, tn
employer would suffer injustice.
L The Rev r. L. Jackson made tn
l. final speech. giving intelligence, inte
at gritty and unselfishness as the essen
IT tial qualifications of a good legislator
d He said too many men had becom
3 so super-refined they did not like
mix up with the younger side of poll
tics. but activity in practical polite
was an obligation upon every voter
no The speakers were heartily applaud
D. ed by the large audience, and at tn
end the guests were invited to partak
OF ice cream, Strawberries and cak
before going out TO see the comet
in Married Ten Years.