Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-31

ancc and protecting themselves by the
payment of not very large premium,
80 tat when they pay the demages
III cases 10 of injury they lot psS
il out of their own pocket, hut p;riri
i, out of tn insurance company .rsoi
do not know how nearly this law copies
lii" federal statute. but in part il *
"a copy of tnr federal statute. d.
not know how far this Log
isiatulc on short notice aud vithojj-
fun debate wants t" Z" ON the line of
that sort of legislation. do not believe
anybody is going to refrain from going
into business on account of this law be-
cause applying only as ii does to business
corporations they can insur.. against any
liability for damage to thcir employees
very readily There arr number OF
agencies in the state only too anxious to
sell that form of insurance and il is not
very high priced. If the motion of the
gentleman from Ellsworth prevails, aud
the matter was carried over to the next
Legislature, Of course the bill would not
for discussion. II the minority report
the House at some time during the day
would need to and would be willing to
give perhaps an hour in going over the
details of the bill, which is short one,
and getting al the actual effect of each
section. 1t is a matter upon which my
opinion Is worth no more than that OF any
other member. | simply let the House
know that the ma jority of the commit
tee in presenting the matter were present
ing something which they believed had
merit and which they believed was wor-
thy of your consideration.
Mr.. SCATES of Westbrooll: Mr.. Speak
er. | would like to ask the gentleman
from Watervle and also the gentleman
from Ellsworth their construction of that
word company" Does that mean a co.
partnership or not?
Mr.. PATTANGAEI.: Mr.. Speaker so
far as l am concerned in this matter
would be willing To relieve the bill from
any ambiguity on that point by writing
before the word COMPANY the word
"stock" or Joint stock" so that it would
read stock company or joint stock COM
pany, or putting in any phrase that
would relieve any ambiguity upon that
point.
Mr.. CHASE of York: Mr.. Speaker, !
call the attention of the House TO Section
of this bill. In making a contract you
cannot get any work done in any section
of the State, outside the cities, without
having it let out by contract No con.
tractor these days will do any work with
out insuring his employees. | know one
contractor who did insure and he had
such an accident. although it was not his
fault at all, and it was not the fault of
anybody, but il ruined the insurance com
pany. They won't do any contract worl,
without insuring the men. Now this bill
provides that when he does that even. he
is liable to be sued for damages and he
can set off what has been paid 1 hope
the minority report will not be accepted.
There are several other matters In the
bill to which ! should have serious OBJ
lection, but l only mention this one as a
specimen. IL
Mr. PETERS: Mr.. Speaker, DONE
Know whether the point of the gentleman
from York in regard to the INSURANCE is
we'll taken or not. ! do not believe that
l would be competent to give any opinion
ON that point until / had had an oppor-
tunity to study this bill and it's bearing
in relation to the proposed legislation. |
suppose that this bin abolished the doc
trine of contributory negligence, but it is
difficult 10 determine the matter at the
present time and for that reason as we'll
as others which | have urged I hope the
matter will be deferred
The pending question being on the mo-
ton to accept the majority report, which
refers this matter to the next Legislature,
The motion was agreed to-