The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-25
West River Valley Associa-
ton Sends Resolution
to Legislators
COMPENSATION ACT
CLASS LEGISLATION
Annual Meeting Held in Brattleboro-
No Fault Found with West River
Railroad Service-J. G. Tibbetts of
Newfane President.

Railroad GSLN1CS-O' -. 41DDCtbS VI
Newfane President.
The annual meeting of the West Riv
er Valley Lumbermen s association was
held Yesterday in the Brooks House and
a resolution was adopted and ordered
mailed to the members Of the house of
representatives, opposing the provi-
sions of the workmens compensation
bill as unwise, unjust and class legis-
lation Five members of the associa
tion were present
The association was organized few
years ago for the purpose of obtaining
better railroad Accommodations for the
shippers and dealers engaged in the
lumber business III the West River val
ley. 1t was repoted at the meeting that
no fault was found with the service
given them by the railroad company.
These officers were elected: Presi-
dent, J. G. Tibbetts OF Newfane; vice
presidcst. Frank H. Brasor of BrattIe-
boro: secretary and treasurer, Willis
H. Taft of West Townshend; executive
committee, Lyman L. Holden of Brat
! tleboro, Frederic II. Sanford OF Brattle-
boro, c. H. Willard and J. c. Taft of
ITownsheud.
The following is copy of the resolu-
tion adopted:
t.At a meeting of the West River
| Valley Lumbermen : association. held
at Brattleboro, March u, 1915. the
members criticized and opposed the pro
| visions of the workmen' 5 compensation
! bill. otherwise known as Senate bill No
! 81, as unwise, unjust and class legisla
tion. 1t was unanimously voted to send
the following lettef t. the members oi
the Vermont Legislatures:
ITO the Members of the House OF
Representatives.
''We appeal to You for careful con
sideration of senate bill No. 64 and fo1
fair play in regard to the same.
New industries have been con
stantly coming into Vermont during
the last three or four years, for tn,
simple reason that they do not hav
labor unions and rigid. unjust laho
} laws to contend with. We have a labo
law at present. wherein if q manu-
facturer IS negligent in any way, au'
through such negligence one of his ON
ployes is injured or killed, he is obligct
, to pay damages. Why should a MAJ
, who is working in u manufaeturin
- plant, where he gets more than tn
man who works on a farm. be Cntitle
to a large amount of compensation
when such injuries have been cause
, by his own carelessncss or neglect
p whereas, If the same injuries were su.
tanned on farm or in small plan
: he would recover nothing?
> 'The prosperity of the farmers dt
Y Ipends in large measure upon til
t prosperity of the manufacturers. l
+ You members as farmers would be vii
ing to take and assume what you rs
i the manufacturers to take and assum
=, ell right. If not, would it be fair t
o ask the manufacturers to assume MOI
e of n responsibility than others3
T - Furthermore. one section Of this hi
g |puts 4 premium on hiring unmarrie
e men or aliens, as it does not cost mo-
II than one-haIf in ease of injury of VIII;
5 it does for married men and naturaiZl
e citizens.
a We would further call the attentic
of the farmers especially to section
II of this bill which provides that -
u any part or section of this act be d
cided by the courts to be unconstit
tional or invalid, the same shall not q
=. feet the validity of the act, as who
~ or any part thereof - 4 bill practic5
+ ly the same as TINS was passed IN Il
- state of Connecticut and when tried o
in the courts a section similar to sectit
of this bill was found to be unco
Istitutional and the farmers were obi
ed to pay the damages as well as t
r manufacturers, and if this bin is pa:
ed in Vermont and case would COZ
before the courts Of this state, they W
al very likely adiudge section 1 of II
bill as unconstitutional, and what w
be the result3 The farmers througho
the state Will be obliged to pay I
employees compensation as well as I
st manufacturers.
le- eff this is the bill you want. W
Nt not have this matter rectifed in I
IS bill and not leave it to the courts
re decide later on2 If not, do not VI
Vo for it. All we ask is fair play and WI
'lr is good legislation for one employ
!, a. should be for another.
IN. 'sWest River Valley Lum
7d' bermen s Association,
IN NV. II. TAFT, Secretary
ore THE WEATHER.