The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-12-27
SERVANT
LAW IS DRAFTED
VIII Be Of Much Interest 10 All EN-
ployes Of Factories In State
Of West virginia.
MANUFACTURERS SEEK
SIMILAR LAW TO MINERS
Would Make II Practically impossible
for Employees 10 Recover Dam
ages for Injury.

Oi great interest 10 all employees in
factories in the State OF West Viz
GINA Is the move on among some OF
the largest manufacturers throughout
the state TO have a law passed at the
next legislature which will he similar
10 the one now in force requiring the
employment Of a mine boss in all coal
or other mines. II Is proposed. as in
the case OF the mine law. to make Il
obligatory in every factory where ma
chinery is employed and where over
ten men work. to employ "A person
whose duty il shall b. 70 see that all
machinery is IN a safe condition and
the working conditions are as they
should be. They would even have
the law require the passage OF exam
nations given by the State. as is de
manded In the case Of mine bosses.
mine foremen and fire bosses in the
mines.
Local Attorneys Opinion.
In an interview with a local attor-
ney who has frequently appeared in
the Ohio county courts. p-rosecuting
personal injury cases. The InteIIigen-
Ger was given a number OF interest
Ing facts. He said. 1T is hardly
NfN"h' t' W. bNF IAN Wei ANlNTnf0 OF
the operation Of the mine law. WHY
The manufacturers Of the State would
back such a move. as 10 seems on the
surface only that they are providing
for an additional expense for them
selves. with probably no benefit for
any Ono but the employees. However.
when it is remembered that in Janu-
airy. 1910. the Supreme Court Of Ap-
pcals OF the State decided In "A per.
sonai injury suit from Mercer coun.
ty that a mine boss Is a fellow ser
want with the miners and as such IS
responsible 20 them for injuries sus.
tanned. DO becomes very evident Tho
decision ~ the court. s%hOulderirR AL
responsibility upon the mine bosses.
makes ~ practically impossible TO
collect damages when a miner Is IN.
jured. unless other negligence on the
part ~ the mine owners ran be
proven. Since the mine boss is gen
orally % man without property. a sit
against him. even though = Judgment
were giveu. would result in no benefit
10 tho injured person
"If is easily seen that n similar 'aw
applied 90 manufacturers would fur
uish an Individual upon whom respon
aihi'fr FOR pcrlonai injuries 90 en-
piovos might be laid. Thus saving the
manufacturer from long and erpcn-
sivc LITIGATION. which iu the majority
~ cases results dieastrousiy 20 them
on account o. tho we'll known afti
tude Of the average Jury Tho result
would be- rs in tho case Of me mine
law. that prosecutions for personal Co..
iurins sustained bv employees I'M man.
u%fac'urirg establishments would be
como fcw and far between. and prob
ably seldom successful
Tho law requiring No employ
mont ~ mine bosses was enthusiast
cai'r supported hH tho lahor.ng mon
vhor ~ vas introduced. but knowing
fhr operation Of that statute. o. is
hardly probable that faov would ean
fio q similar 'aw applied NJ manu-
farfurcra
% ia authorite'ively stated. howev.
r-. That tho ii1 is row iu course ~
drafting though 40 is vet over a year
before Tho novf legislature viii BE- az.
eembicd