Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-04
SUTHERLAND'S BILL
STRONGLY OPPOSED
RaiIroaders in Session Here
Say It Would Prevent Ade-
quate Pay for Injuries.

Discussion of employers liability and
Workingmen's compensation measures
and mass of resolutions dealing with
claims and minor matters were taken up
at the morning session of the convention
OF the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen, at the Arcade
building, 18th street and Park road. to-
day
This afternoon the members Of the
brotherhood, with members of the ladies'
society, were received by President Will
son at the White House. More than 800
men and women passed through the east
room and shook hands with the Presi-
dent. The delegates were headed by W.
8. Carter. president of the organization.
The question of workingmen's com
pensation promises to be one of the
most important subjects to be dis
cussed at the convention. The or
ganization Is expected to vote to OPP
pose Senator Sutherland's workingmen' S
compensation bill. which was passed
by the Senate at the last session. on
the ground that it would shut them
out from the benefits of the employers
liability law.
Compensation Inadequate.
The majority Of the delegates are
said to favor a form of workingmen' S
compensation law which would give
them the choice Of accepting the COM
pensation for injuries under such a
law or of suing under the employers
liability law.
They claim that the Sutherland bill. if
enacted into law, would have the effect
of giving them benefits for short time.
but Of preventing them from getting ade-
TO
brotherhood magazine, edited by John +.
McNamee. has been conducting a cam
paign against the Sutherland bill
The principal work Of the convention,
outside Of the revision of the constitu-
ton and the selection of a permanent
headquarters, is to be the consideration
of working agreement with the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Engineers. This
agreement, which has been discussed for
several years. was made public for the
first time today. 1t has already been rat
flied by the engineers.
The agreeme mt provides for an ami
cable settlement OF all disputes which
might come up between the two organ
iZatonS. With other provisions is one
that members of one of the organiza-
tons shall not take places made vacant
by members of the other when they go
on strike Another provision is that
should the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen go on strike
they shall not require members who are
engineers to go out. and that should the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers go
on a strike they shall not require mem
bers who are firemen and enginemen to
strike.
Certain to Adopt Agreement.
The working agreement is considered
almost certain to be adopted during the
present convention, but it will net come
up for definite consideration for more
than a week. 1t has been placed before
the convention by a committee which
conferred with similar committee
from the other organizations If ratlned
railroad world. The two organizations
will retain their own individuality. as
al present but will work together on
many questions.
The question of permanent headquarters
for the brotherhood is not expected to
come to a vote until the latter part of the
convention. but is one Of the chcief topics
of discussion among the delegates at
present Washington is considered in the
lead i'm the race. Coupled with this queS
ton is the question Of where the next
convention will he held. Oakland. Cal. is
considered to be in the lead in this race.
Late this afternoon the delegates will
attend the concert to be given by the
United States Marine Band in the White
House eliipse. A special program has
been arranged. Tonight there is to he "a
ball at the Arcade building, given by
Potomac Lodge No. 4.