Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-02-02
WOULD GIVE AID
TO INJURED MEN
BILL SOON TO BE SUBMITTED TO
CONGRESS THAT WILL CON-
PENSATE RAILRoADERS.
RATES FIXED BY MEASURE
Commission Makes Exhaustive lnves-
tlsation of Rail Accidents, Cow
ering so Per Cent of Roads
of United States.

Washington, D. C.-The recent de-
oision OF the supreme court unani-
mously sustaining the constitution
ality of the employers liability law Of
1908, adds importance to bill for rail-
road workmen's compensation which
the Employers Liability and Work
mems Compensation commission has
Just completed and shortly will lay
before congress with the recommend
alton that it become a law. This
commission is composed of Senators
Sutherland or Utah and Chamberlain
Of Oregon, Representatives Brantley
Of Georgia and Moon of Pennsylvania,
w. G. Brown of the New York Gen.
trail railway, and D. l.. Cease, editor
of the Railroad Trainman. Its secre-
tary is Lawrence Packer, formerly an
attorney Of Youngstown, o.
Draft of Bill Ready.
The final draft OF this bill, which diff
fers in some particulars from the tenta-
tive bill made public some time ago, Is
now ready, as Is also the accompanying
report of congress. 1t deals with work
mems compensation only, the employers
liability phase of the question being dealt
with under the law now on the statute
books. While the employers liability fea
ture involves the proving of negligence on
the part of someone by the employe and
the connecting that negligence with some
one who can pay for 1t, that is, the en-
ployer by the doctrine of agency this
worltmen's compensation bill proceeds
upon the theory that the accident is the
product of the trade or Industrial under
taking and the trade therefore should pay
for 1t. The negligence factor under mod
ern extended operations no longer should
be the controlling factor.
Measure Summed Up.
Summed up very briefly, the bill, where
death results from accident gives the
widow and children of the workman 80
per cent of his monthly wages for the
period of eight years. If there is no widow
or children, but dependent parent or par
ents, then the latter shall be paid 25 or
40 per cent respectively. Where perma-
nent total disability, such as total blind
ness, loss of both hands or feet spinal in
juries resulting in complete paralysis, or
injuries to the skull resulting in imbecility
or insanity Is produed, the injured employe
will receive so per cent of his monthly
wages during the remainder of his life
In cases of permanent partial disability
so per cent of tho wages shall be paid for
periods ranging from six years for total
deafness in both ears or the loss of one
arm, five and one-half years for the loss
of one leg, four years and nine months
for the loss of one hand, four years for
the loss of one foot and two and one-half
years for the loss of one eye, down to
four months for the loss OF one toe, other
than the great toe, for which the time
limit is nine months. For temporary dis
ability the allowance is so per cent of the
wages during the continuance of the dis
ability. The commission has made an ex-
hausttive investigation OF railroad accl-
dents, covering 20 per cent of the roads
of the United Sta ,es.