The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-02
EMPLOYMENT FOR ATTORNEYS
And Ambulance Chasers Would De the
Principal Benefit Derived from the
Fellow Servant Law
.OcaIa, Fla. May /, 1911.

. heSSTS- ' dIIlcys I'd4Aot-E~ an 800 49, |
Senator and Representatives OF
Marion County, Tallahassee. Fla:
Gentlemen-I have noticed with
much interest the bill now pending
before the legislature in relation TO the
fellow servant" law, which provides
that the master will be liable for IN
juries received by his employees, al
though occasioned directly by the neg
ligence of servant in the common
employ of the party injured.
| As you know. l represent several
/ concerns in this and adjoining coun-
ties who employ a large NUMBER OF
laborers. and it has been the policy OF
these concerns, so far practicable,
10 employ white labor. I mention this
as it leads up TO what | have 20 say
If the present bill is passed, it will |
make all such concerns liable for any |
injury done TO employee where a fell |
low servant is to blame. regardless OF
negligence On part of the master. thus
changing the present system OF laws.
and adopting a system that but Few
of the states have adopted, and thus
increasing the risks Of employers
{ large per cent.
| am opposed to this law, not mere
r ~ for the reason that | have the honor
: to represent quite a number Of con
hands. but also in the interest of ev-
= erT person or concern in Florida sim
e ilarly situated. as such law will, in ad-
{ ldition TO other burdens, impose an un-
G necessary hardship upon them
=. In my opinion it will become neces-
: sarv for every concern in this state
n TO dispose of practically, if not all OF
y the white labor, other than foremen,
V superintendents and the like. and use
e as far as practicable only colored ser
wants, who as you know, are more or
8 less shiftless, and having no regular
- place of abode, are. less apt 10 go INTO
> the courts for redress
n In addition this, they will neces-
Id sarily have to establish a relief fund
r, taxing each employee a certain pro
Id portion of his wages. to meet losses
s. occasfoned by their own negligence
Id otherwise. you know. they coulo
n not exist very long. and while they die
ee exist they would be the prey of un
a scrupulous persons who might be term
re ed Ambulance chasers." whose duty i
it is TO find out and work up such case:
% for gain 1t is not necessary for me t
"e. go further in this. line to impress upoi
he you the serious objections that L nov
on urge to the passage Of this bill.
90 It will not in my opinion. help tn
ar laborer for whom it is proposed |
on will help the lawyer and personal in
a Jury shark who works up the cas-
more than it does the laborer 1t vii
Of necessarily reduce the price of labo
On, and in many instances dispose of tn
III. white labor wherever cOlored labO
err can he used. Every person who EN-
he ploys labor, be he contractor, far
al mer, turpentine or sawmin operate
as or engaged in the phosphate bushes:
ed. therefore, such law will necessarily re
la ouire measures by the employer to pre-
the tect his interests. for you know
the man who has money always seel
the to keep it. and he will do so, even
,er. the expense of the laborer. and Il
yho proposed legislation will effect the Ii
our b0rer more than it will the employer
the | may not be correctly informed, 81
of it is my understanding that there
est no labor organizations demanding Il
passage of such law, nor do l belle
At one ever will because it is clear tn
dial the working man will not be benefit
kes by it in the long run. In my judgme
on it will give good fat employment to
lue few attorneys who make a specially
With such work, and also to their henchm
,ad- who work up the cases, but beyo
ev- this little benefit will be derived fro
and it.
for AS | understand it, it is proposed
extend the law in relation to railrOa
With to all other classes of work, but y
Ier's will readily see that there is a va
sion distinction between them. The IA
es- road, operating in most instances tn
lgh several states, and using the most Ga
gerous Observation-Disclosures known, a
rim also performing a public duty, m
is a properly be required to stand behi
cor the negligence of servant who
nber been negligent in his duties, becal
1ors they are required to exercise a grea
of degree of care than is required
the leases of private concerns, both in
it is selection of servants and in the ope
from ton of trains. Therefore a disti
too line may be drawn between such ella
les.
s of l regard the law as bad one an
e as trust that l have shown you the eN
was that may result from its passage.
arkS Yours truly. H. VI. Hampton