El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-19

p HAVE just laid down the April num-
Der Of my Locomotive Engineers
\ Journal" after reading an article
which tells of the Farmers union Of
Texas having sent to all members of
the legislature, a memorial, protesting
against the passage Of the fun crew
bill, on the plea that it will cost the
claim, finally pays the bill, an extra
100000 a year to operate the rail-
roads Of the state If the bill becomes a
law.
It is not my purpose to question the
action Of the Farmers union, or to
make any argument for or against the
bill in question, but the thought came
to my mind, and it has come there
years. I wonder if these same men
think Of this when they are on a jury
in damage suit against these same
railroads when, without a pause, they
many time give a verdict for thou
sands against according to their own
argument) themselves, and in many
OF the cases, without the least Justice
or reason. except the sophistry Of some
smooth tongued lawyer in the damage
suit industry.
Understand, refer, from beginning
to end Of this article, not to an honest
or legitimate case Of injury in which
the plaintiff is Justly entitled to recover,
but to the thousands OF cases that are
tried, and in which damages are given
against the railroad when, If the same
kind of a case was being tried by the
same jury but in which the defendant
was some private firm or individual.
instead of a railroad, the Jury would
never leave their seats before giving in
a verdict for the defendant in the
case.
The protest OF the Farmers union
states that it viii cost $1,000. 900 a year
more to operate the roads OF this state
II the full crew bill becomes a law. It
q 70 ID -H -
last year, $4,000 a mile for the 1900
miles of railroad operated in this state
for verdicts in damage suits. At the
same time. or during the same year
the roads in the state of New York
with three times the mileage, five
times OF more the density Of pOula-
ton, and consequently that much more
risk Of injuries, paid not quite $1,000
a mile for the same cause In plain
figures, Texas railroads in the whole
were taxed $4,000. 900 in damages.
while the roads Of New York with all
or the extra risk, paid less than half
of that amount and New York is not
a paradise for railroads by any means
The simple fact of the matter is the
whole cry all along the line seems to
be, bleed the railroads" Some Of the
Farmers union members may say.
Wei. the damage suits thrive better
in the large cities of the state. where
We have nothing to do with the cases.
than they do in the country districts"
] doubt 1t. It IS a common talk among
the floating class Of railroad employees
and others on the line Of the Southern
Pacific, that the railroad never has
Won a single damage suit that was
tried in a certain county. less than 100
miles west of the city of San Antonio
and that II one ever wanted TO get a
big verdict, if one was ever hurt on
the road, to take the case to that town
and county, and they would surely
get it.
Compensation Often Is Deserved.
fully deserve compensation for injuries
sustained, and our laws are meant to
and do protect them. and in a great
majority Of these classes of injuries.
the railroads will not let the cases
come to a trial If a settlement can be
made out of court on any reasonable