The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-08
FINAL SESSION OF RECESS COMMITTEE
 WILL BE HELD TODAY Will Complete Its Inyestiga-
 tion of Judiciary in This County
ATTORNEYS FAVOR
 COMPENSATION ACT
Only c. R. Harsh Opposed to Meas ure-Committee for Dekalb Asks Branch of Circuit Court Be Es-
 tablished at Collinsville

At o'clock this morning the legisia- tive recess committee on judicial reform will commence it's final session in Bir- mingham at the Motion hotel, and at us close will have completed it's invesuea- tions so far as Jefferson county is con cerned. There is nothing special to come before the committee this morning ana Chairman Davis states it will be glad to hear any further suggestions that Will aid it in it's labors.
 Yesterday quite a number of prominen. attorneys appeared before the committee and spoke in favor of the proposed work mems compensation act. At noon com mitaee of citizens from Dekalb county appeared before the committee asking that a branch of the circuit court be estap- lished at Colinsville. An informal discus sion was had on the question of the dis barn,ent of lawyers for soliciting business. Quite a number of citizens called and paid their respects to the committee, amohs them ex-Gov R. B. Conner, who commenu- ed it on the work it is doing and expressed the hope that great good would result from it's labors.
 Want Court at COllinsville
 The committee from Collinsville all ad- dressed tke committee in the interest 'ot a court at that point, stating that near ly every citizen of 10 adjoining beats had signed petition asking that the court be tablished. Senator Lusk asked whether it was contemplated to submit the propos- ton to a vote of the people, and Tn re- ply the committee stated that there was no opposition at the present tune to the plan. and that an election would mean both delay and expense
 Senator Lusk stated that he would pe inclined to vote against the measure un-
 less 1t was submitted to the people. The members of the Collinsville committee were J, E. Johnson. l.. s. Nicholson. w. D. Reed, H. H. Smith and J. T. Johnson.
 J. T. Stokley in stating his views on the workmen s compensation act said they were his own opinions and not as rep resentative of an employer of labor He expressed himself strongly as favoring the passage of such an act as being benefi- cial to all parties concerned. He gave 1t as his opinion that not more than 4' per cent of the money paid out by tho employers of labor for personal injury damage suits went to the persons injured or their families, and that he thought ths act would eliminate at least 75 per cen of the litigation between employers ant Injured employees.
 Approve Compensation Act Forney Johnston also spoke in favo of the act, and referred to the fact tha some of the companies in the district hat compensation plan for injured workmel and explained to .he committee it's work ings. He suggested that as the work mems compensation act would necessarily oe experimental in Alabama he suggested 1 that compensation should be based on , | per cent of the wages.
 | Both Mir Stokley and Mi Johnston ap proved the consolidation Of city ant circuit courts
 l J. II. Doughty, genera li Tt for th' 1 Frisco lines. said his company as a larg' employer of labor favored the workmeni compensation act, stating it would be fai | to both employer an demploye.
 G. R. Harsh stated he was opposed t' the act. He suggested that if the act wa compulsory an injured workman woul, | sometimes be forced to accept a less sun as damages than he might recover through | the courts. Mr.. Harsh stated that as general proposition workman's compen
 sation act favored the employer rathe 1 than the empoye.
 1 Senator Frank S. White. Charles E. Ric
 and Ed Smith appeared before the com
 mittee and expressed themselves as fav bring the passage of the workmen's com pensatfon act as being a moral and eco nomical proposition and one that woul prove of great benefit to the community Representative Bradshaw of the legisa tive, finanse and taxation committee, pal
 the committee visit and invited 1t [
 attend the inspection of Muscle Shoal
 next Monday. and to take part in tn
 celebration The committee thanked tn
 representative for his courtesy but state
 it had planned to meet in Montgomery o
 Monday, and that as 1t had so much wor
 ahead it would be impossible for the con . mittee to attend.