El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-02
Musicians Union Elects w
B. McCracken Business
Agent Sunday.

Il L PASO union labor men gathered
II in large numbers at Union Labor
hall Sunday afternoon to hear an
address by T. c. Jennings, chairman OF
the Legislative committee OF the Texas
State Federation Of Labor Mr.. Jen-
nngs came from his home IN Beau
mont last week to make arrangements
for the coming of the delegates TO the
state labor convention TO be held IN
this city in June Uncertainty as 10
the rates to be given delegates by the
railroads had arisen ana chairman
Jennings came to get the matter ad-
justed. He delivered an interesting
address on union labor matters
Workers Compensation Law.
Mr.. Jennings said in part, according
to a report furnished The Herald, by
Henry NJ Walker:
There is no doubt but there is a
systematic and concentrated effort on
the part Of the enemies of the principle
OF workmen's compensation IN Texas
TO prejudice the people against TINS,
the most beneficent measure when
has ever been placed on the statute
books Of the state.
of recovery Of damages Tor personal
injuries incurred in the course OF en-
pIoyment, which obtained in Texas be-
fore the passage of the WOrkmenS
compensation law. there were very
rich pickings for the damage suit
lawyer and others who attended upon
the misfortune of the injured working
man.
Under the old common law, the
common law defence Of contributory
negligence, assumption OF risk by the
employee and the fellow servants rule,
We're strictly adhered to by our courts,
making it practically impossible to re-
cover damages Tor personal injuries
in more than 80 percent of the cases
occurring in the Industries OF the state
this, of course, not applying to those
engaged in railway service, as the
common law defences of railway cor
pOratiOns had been abolished by leg
islative enactment.
Under the employers liability act
commonly known as the WOrkmen'S
compensation law, the employees of all
employers employing more than five
people are fully protected, and the en-
plOyer is required to insure him
against injury occurring in his employ
ment; failing to do that, the employer
is deprived Of all common law de-
fences, and becomes liable in an action
at law for every INJURY occurring to
his employees, unless 1t was occasiOned /
through the Wilful misconduct Of the
emplOye himself"
The Texas Law.
Mr.. Jennings claims that the amount !
Of compensation provided for under /
the Texas law IS so percent of the /
weekly wages of the injured ernploye
at the time of the injury, and extends 4
throughout the inCapacity of the in I
OF a LOtaA permanent disability the !
OF $50 weeks, regardless of the de- 4
tendency upon the deceased. In case /
Of a total permanent disability the /
injured is entitled to thief ull so per- /
cent Of his wages weekly for per /
100 Of 400 weeks and, in addition to /
that, in case Of the loss Of one or both 1
eyes, hands, feet or loss of one or /
more fingers or toes he is entitled to
an additional compensation ranging
from u TO 100 weeks; or, in other
words. the loss of both hands feet or
ayes will entitle the injured workman
TO 500 weeks compensation, which is
p period of more than nine and one
half years, and at the maximum rate
Of $500 per week, amounting to
$500, every. cent Of which goes direct
y to the injured employee or in case
IF death before the expiration of the
800 weeks, TO his legal beneficianies,