The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-16
MORE EQUITABLE
METHOD NEEDED
Railway Surgeons Discuss Cues
ton of Settling Damage Suits
Filed by Employee.
DR.. THOMAS APPROVES BILL
DR.. McEwan Elected President
vi Atlantic Coast Line AS
ISOLATION.

in an imprompta talk to the Associa-
ton of Surgeons OF the Az coast
Line Railroad in convention At he
Richmond Hotel yesterday. Or. u. q.
Thomas, chief surgeon of the com
pany. expressed himself personally In
favor OF the employees compensation
act. The bill. he said. passed the Sen
ate at the last session OF Congress. and
would have passed tine House but ioi
political reasons. IL is probable. he
added. that in the next year the Dill
will become law.
DIR. Thomas's talk came near the
close of the days program. after a
number OF papers discussing railway
accidents and resultant injuries had
Seen read. In the discussions of the
papers. suggestions were made by sew
eral doctors in regard to a more equi-
table method OF settling damage claims.
The employees compensation act.
said DIR. Thomas, IL passed in it's pres
ent form, will provide an automatic
method of settling. with railroad en-
ployes for injurie.. received while at
work. The graduated scale OF allow
ances contained in the bill for differ
ent injuries will largely do away with
the present system. whereby the award
Of compensation IL frequently made by
juries which are governed by unskilied
testimony.
First D1ty to Inj1fea.
DR.. Thomas urged his hearers to
approach every case Of injSry with
q view OF aiding the sufferer first. ana
looking after che interests pf the
railroad only after this has been done
Among the suggestion made from the
floor Of the convention for better
method Of determining damages was
one looking to the formation o: State
board Of examiners. 1t would be the
duty Of the board to make an investi-
cation Of every injured persons case
from a nonpartisan standpoint and
report to a court, which would make
the award.
Other features Of the convention
were papers by DR.. Edward F. Parker.
Of Charleston. S. c., on The Manage
ment Of Eye Injuries" and one Illus
trating methods Of stimulation on the
part Of injured persons for the pur-
pose Of obtaining damages. by DR.. A.
p. Albaugh, of Tarpon Springs. Fla.
DR.. McEwan President.
At the cl ose Of the session cmcers
for the ensuing year were elected. as
follows: president. DR.. John 5. NC
EVAN, Orlando, Fla: first vtce-presi-
dent, DR.. S T. Nicholson. Washington
N. c.; second vice-president. DR.. c. E.
Moore, Wilson. n. c.: third vice-presi-
dent DR.. H. B. Mahood, Emporia. Va;
secretary treasurer. DR.. c. p. Aimar'
Charleston. S. c.: members OF the
executive committee-Dr. D. 9. Thomas
Wilmingt On n. c.. chairman; DR.. south
gate Lee, Norfolk. Va: DR.. !. II. HICKS
Dunn. n. c.: Dr. w. s. Lynch, Scranton.
s. c.; DR.. NJ. N. stow. Jessup. Ga; DR..
oliver ]. Miller. Sanford. Fla. ana
DR.. q. A. Hammond. Dothan. Ala
The next place Of meeting was not
selected, as that decision lies with the
executive committee and will be mace
at a later date. At the close OF the
meeting resolutions thanking the peo-
ole Of Richmond. and especially Mayor
Ainslie. who welcomed the surgeons
were passed. A vote OF thanks was
also given Dr. Thomas for his part IN
the convention. About zoo persons at
tended the sessions.
In the afternoon the wives OF the
doctors were guests at tea given AT
the Country Club Of Virginia "Trip
down the James River to City POINT
to-day will close the convention.