The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-01-27
OPPOSITION TO POTTER BILL CON.
vINCES AUTHOR MEASURE
is TOO DRASTIC.
CONSIDERATION Will Be
DROPPED FOR PRESENT
Senate Chamber Was Thronged Monday
Afternoon For Hearing Of Arguments
Against Proposed Act-organized
Labor Against Bill.


Special to The Net1s.
~ Jackson, Miss, Jan. 27.-No work
mans compensation law will be enact
ed at the present session of the Mis-
sissippi legislature. Although senti-
ment appears to favor statute of this
character, so much opposition to the
measure in its present form was pre-
scented by lumber and other interests
represented at the meeting late yes
terday of the senate corporation CON-
mittee, that Senator Clayton D. Pot
ter, author of the bill, asked that no
vote be taken and consideration of it
be dropped for the present. This will
probably be followed by the formal
withdrawal of the bill.
Labor conditions in Mississippi are
so radically different from what they
are in New Jersey, the compensation
law of which state was taken as the
model for the Potter bill, that it was
declared dangerous to enact such
Sldlul6 WlluOuJ IuOIOuSh ihNSoSAtoosAO'A
of lust what effect it would have. Sew
eral speakers suggested the appoint
ment of a Joint legislative committee
to thoroughly look into the question
and report suggested enactment at
the next session of the lawmaking
body.
Senate Chamber Thronged.
Such general interest was shown in
the Potter bill that the entire senate
chamber was needed to accommodate
the throng of people who came to jack
son from all parts of Mississippi to ex-
press their views. The lumber inter-
'ests were especially in evidence, with
the railroads a close second. While
the manufacturers were inclined to
look favorably upon compensation
scheme of the right sort, the employees
of the common carriers were shown to
be unanimous in opposition to the en-
actment of any such law at all, de-
claring that the present federal sta
tute on the subject of injuries, which
permits jury trial to establish the
amount of damages claimed, was what
they preferred. They were satisfied
with things as they are, and did not
want any change. Respecting this
general sentiment, Senator Potter
early in the session expressed a will
ilngness to eliminate from the bill all
reference to employees Of railroads, and
exempt them from the provisions OF
the act. Representatives Of the fire
men. engineers and conductors were
on hand in force.
The hearing lasted from $3.50 unit
$3.50 Monday evening, and during thai
time nearly score Of men took the
floor to give their opinion of the pro
posed law.
Judqe Cooper Heard.
Judge Tim E. Cooper, formerly
member Of the supreme court of Mis-
sissippi, reviewed the history of indus
trial legislation throughout the world
and declared that workmen's compen
sation is in line with the .enlightene'
public sentiment, which has outgrowl
the idea advanced in the time-tattere'
rule of non-liability for the neglect
a fellow-servant. He pleaded for
as a matter of justice, declaring tina
40 to so per cent of damages now CO
1ected through courts and juries neve
reach the people they are intended II
but 20 into the pockets Of the lawyers
The corporations themselves do nc
nay out of their own pockets, he salt
the money that is awarded under tn
new system but it comes, indirectl
out of the pockets of the people in gel
eral, through advanced prices for maj
.ufactured products, and this was righ
= and a duty and protection which $
\ciety owed to those engaged in hazar
-th( bus occupations. He urged the enac
Mr.. ent Of a law that would pay pa
ned ,nts to widows and children, or
lie N injured person himself. sure, al
noonS l 30 that the money would certai
(Ce Nnued on page seyen,>
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