Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-06-19

May 2Stn, 1913.
To All Railroads and Terminal Com
panies Under Government Control
The Federal Control Act contem-
plates that suits for personal injuries
may be brought as heretofore, but pro-
vides that executions may not be levied
on the property of the carrier while in
the possession of the Government. This
means that while Judgment may be
recovered, 1t devolves upon the Direc-
tor General to provide for payment and
this places upon him the responsibility
of considering the merits of the claims
and the persons to whom payment is
made. 1t is the desire of the Director
General that justice shall be done to
all employees who are injured in the
discharge Of their duties. This does
not mean that verdicts based upon
prejudice or passion shall be paid or
that large sums shall be paid by the
Government to attorneys and solicit
ors who have no claim upon the Gov
ernment The right is reserved to con-
slider the merits in determining what
provision shall be made.
TT will be the policy Of the Govern
ment to discourage litigation, and to
deai directly with injured persons to
the end that the injured person may re-
ceive the benefit of any amount which
the Government pays, without the ex-
pense of litigation. and without being
compelled to. turn over one-third or
one-half to an attorney. You may,
therefore let it be known that such
claims will be considered on their mer-
it's.
As to fee contracts: You are auth
orized to exercise wise discretion, and
are not required to make payment as
provided therein, but only on such
terms as will enable the person injured
to receive just treatment If the con-
tract is unjust, you may pay the at
torney such reasonable sum as will pay
him for the services actually render
ed.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR"
In support of this circular letter,
Mr. McAdoo has issued General Order
No. 26 specifically defining the matter
of procedure in relation to all such
claims. This general order has been
declared to be issued as necessary
in the present war emergency" The
general order further states "in the
event of unnecessary hardship in any
case, either party may apply to the
Director General for relief, and he
will make such order therein as the
circumstances may require consis-
tent with the public interest" Since
the PRONUNCIATION Of ysIe circular
above referred to, r. H. Ashton, Re
gional Director, with headquarters al
Chicago, has issued Circular No. lis
under date June l, 1918, appointing a
committee of nine competent railroad
men to assist in the formation OF
reasonable rules" to be adopted, sub
ject to the approval of the Director
General for the Government and set
tlement of claims growing out of the
transportation of the different kinds OF
tonnage referred to in the circular.
This latter circular (No. 118) is ac-
companied by proposed classifica-
tion covering grain claims, fruit and
vegetable claims. live stock claims,
fresh meats and packing house pro-
ducts and coal, coke and ore loaded
in open equipment. This latter tenta-
tive classification is sent out over the
signature of John Barton Payne, Gen
eral Counsel. The intention of the
Government being to reduce to mini
mum all unnecessary cost in the mat
ter of the handling of claims against
common carriers.