Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-01-21

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in the relief department ofe4hes B. &
10. Railway Co. 1t was shown that the
same release applies to the B. & o..
Chicago Terminal Co. relief associa-
ton, proving the ownership of the
Chicago Terminal Co. by the B. & O..
Railway although it is commonly call
ed a separate corporate entity. Not
with standing the sensational features
of these disclosures, none of the chi
fcago newspapers gave special notice
to the story and; in fact, buried it.
This matter was brought out whDs
lW. q. Futch. President of the loco
mot We Engineers. Mutual Life and Acs
cue IT, Insurance. Assaeiasi saas on
| tie stand. Peculariarly enough the
way was paved for the relief associa-
ton bomb by James MI Sheean, coun-
sci FOR the companies, in cress-exam-
ination dealing with personal injury
claims paid by the railroads. A bit
of the colloquy which ensued follows:
M. Stone: 'Tsn't it a fact, Mi.
Futch. that the percentage of cases
where railroads pay for injuries is
small?" 49, s>.1
M. Futch: Eyes, and only when the
court of last resort compels it."
M. Stone: isn't it a fact that these
so-called relief associations cause a
man to sign away his life in order TO
carry his relief?"
| M. Futch: eyes"
M. Stone then produced photo
graphic capy Of the standard relief
application blank and read iteinto tae
record. - 1t bore the B. & o. imprint
and among other things showed that
the applicant was compelled to sign
an agreement by which the railroad
lis permitted to appropriate certain
Eamounts monthly from the employees
Iwages and apply same to the relief
fund (which assignment shall have
procedure over any other assignment
Eby me of my wages or of any claim
Iupon them DIN account of liabilities
Incurred by me-
Il Further, the employee said he Legally
Recognized certain payments into HE
jrelief department by the railroad conf
Ipany as "a release of all claims against
|said company. ........ for damages
Iby reason of injury or DEATH
/ In silent courtroom with nearly all
lof the spectators watching him, intent,
lily, Mr.. Stone. following the reading OF
this document, arose and said:
i Workers Can't Appeal.
i ''This is how the railroads project
themselves against paying for their
human wreckage. understnd that
1.-THE form as presented here Is stans
lizard. understand, Mr.. Chairman,
THAT it will not hold in the supreme
fCourt for a minute but unfortunately
i the widow, with two or three children
1clinging around her skirts, when the
4 Wage.earner is dead is not in & poet
i Jon to law the railroad company. She
makes the best adjustment she can
with the claim agent. There IL no
Eauestion in mind but what this schema
! has been the means of saving these
companies thousands. and pertaps
j millions, of dollars. Moreover. It com
els the men to pay for this relief q
labout three prices"
Mr.. stone also disclosed that in thu
lrelief blank is a clause which cause
line applicant to agree in advance thal
mo other claim or liability SHAH nav
llprecedence over the relief fund which
means, as Mr.. Stone indicated hat i
4 man should be sick every day in tn;
month bnt one and work. that siagl,
Iday, the Relief Department Of Tie rail
fo6d would take tribute men tia
d. ~ Tor Tie amount due - ii