Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-06-29
TOOL UCHOF THIS CHARACTER
Of Litigation, Which Has Be-
come Almost An Organ
lied Raid.

1
ing damage suits against railroads
and corporations in general, is not
only true of Texas, but is true of
Kentucky. If there isn't a halt
called along these lines. it will be
the ruin of the railroads and put
them out of business There is little
gained in the long run to the people.
The Caller says:
That damage suit raids are an in
creasing evil as an easy method of
shaking down the corporations" is
shown by the last annual report of
the State Railway Commission just
issued.
while no fair.minded person can
question the wisdom or justice of
making the carriers responsible for
the losses of property or life and
limb they occasion through no fault
of the victims, this character of lit
igation. so profitable to attorneys,
has in some communities deterior-
ated into an organized raid. Ma
chimes for the purpose are built up
in some instances, consisting of leg
gers or ambulance chasers,' detec-
tives to ferret or invent evidence,
and jury spoilers or tixers. Back of
it all are shrewd, keen legal sharks
in their dens. pulling all the strings
and financing the raid, for the lions
share Of the pelf. The hopeless vic
tim. or heirs of the same, for whom
the law was made, gets but small
part of the booty.
The Caller would not cast asper-
sions upon its reputable awyer
friends; nor upon those who en-
gage in legitimate damage suits. 1t
knows many of them to be clean
and honorable men. How yer,
there are enough others engaged in
reprehensible practices to disgrace
their profession. So vast are their
operations that the results are prov.
ing a serious enconomic factor in the
railroad situation in this State
During the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1910, payments for personal
injuries by Texas roads aggregated
50. 1850, 298. 20. being an increase of
$3.50, l05, IA. over personal injury
payments for the previous year,
when a total of 81, 100, 1875 was
paid out by the roads of this State
on this score.
For the year ending June 80, 1909
personal injury payments aggregated
PAP per cent.of the gross receipts of
Texas roads. For the year ending
June 30, 1910, personal injury pay
ments aggregated 2 40 per cent. of
gross receipts.
"Furthur analysed tits found there
was decrease of z 60 per cent. in
amounts paid out in settlement for
injuries and deaths for the year 1910
as compared with 1909.
THE Caller holds no brief to de,
fend the railroads. 1t views with
satisfaction the wise legislation of
the State and Federal Governments
to regulate them and prevent corpo-
rate injustice to the people. Texas
not only limits stocks and bond is
sues, but fixes freight and passenger
rates and conditions of service.
Despite this fact it is still the
practice Of a cheap John class of
demsgogues to berate the railroads
and all other capitalized industries.
Prejudice is thus fomented
among the less informed classes.
This prejuaice not only serves a po-
litical purpose in some instances,
but does double duty in the jury
box. From it springs the morally
lax and unfair disposition of juries
to stick the railroad regardless of
the merits Of case.
''Such jurors not only permit
themselves to be Influenced by a |
dishonest motive. but are mistaken
as TO the financial benefit to result
from this legalized. but immoral
robbery.
They are In fact voting money
out of their own pockets instead |