The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-22
COMPENSATION BILL
PASSED OVER VETO
House Follows Senates Lead In In
sistinG on Measure as Originally
Adopted ny Assembly.
FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS
Delegates Strongly Uphold In Speeches
the Plan which Is Expected to Ben
eft Employers and Employees Alike
by Its Operation.

The compensation bill has now be-
come law by grace OF the act OF the
general assembly in passing the bill
over the governors veto.
The senate having already passed
the measure over the veto, the house
took the bill Gp yesterday on recon
sideration Of the vote ot NedneSdaE'
when the two-thirds necessary in Ia
vor OF the bill could not be obtained.
The vote on final passage was 81 20
20, with three pairs, and Thirteen ap~
sent or not voting.
The parliamentarians OF the house
state that in their recollection this Is
the first time for at least twenty years
that gubernatorial veto has been
overridden by the general assembly.
Delegate Gilmer, of Pulaski. made
an eloquent argument in favor OIL
standing by the house bill. and
claimed that the house should not be
forced 20 stuitify itself because the
governor had made campaign
pledge.
Delegate Adams. of Charlotte. re-
ferred to the propaganda started
among the agriculturists every time
anything was suggested at the CAPT
toll that some people did not faVof'
and said that whenever this was done
word went out to have your repre-
sentative vote against this measure
without ever giving any reason why
the measure should not become law.
This statement by the member
from Charlotte was vigorously APP
plauded. Mr.. Adams said he wRs az
nrst inclined not to support the DILL,
but as he became better acquainted
with n hs believed II TO be his duty
as a state representative TO support
Delegates Gillian and Sproul also
spoke I'M favor of passing the bill over
the veto.
Delegate Gordon. of Louisa, asked
the house to stand by the governor.
Floor Leader Willis said
The governor has practically told
US he vetoed the bill 10 carry out
cam paign pledge not TO create any
new Offices He says this bill creates
a new Office, but In reality ne Is ask
ing us 10 shy at the shadow. I ne
only new Offices the people might be
against are those to be paid FOR out
Of the state treasury. and even men
they are not opposed TO them II they
are created for good and just rea-
son and If their creation means more
profit to the state
THE expense and cost Of the Offices
To be created under this bin are 10 be
paid hy the people who come under
ite benefits Perhaps n quarter Of
one per cent 81 the enormous cost
that has hitherto fallen on he unHor~
tunate manned and injured when they
have borne expensive litigation and
court costs attorneys fees. witnesses
fees and SO on. Is now taken 10 sup
mort and administer this law. and the
great bulk ~ that enorru Gus sum Is
now saved TO the victims Of industrial
accidents
1T is no, burden on tire state. On
the rontrav II lifts burden from
tho backs Of the people Of the state,
No longer need the poor and unfortu :
nate plead unsn ccessfuliy in court fer
damages No longer must they hand
over one half of the pttsnce they do
receive. when 80 fortunate as to re-
cetve anything at All. To pay for fees
and court expenses.
To say that we shall deny the peo-
pie OF the state this great relief Is TO
say that reason has deserted us and
that the milk Of human kindness no
longer In with men This burden was
thrust upon the lower classes by the
upper classes of medieval days. and
10 say that We shall not lift that bur
deu now because Of campaign
pledge with which we in this house
had no connection or responsibility is
10 stultify ourselves.
MFR Willis cited the example OF q
merchant and proprietor OF saw
mill. against whom one of his en-
ployes received damages of $40, 900 In
suit to recover for personal Injury.
And the employe sold that employer 3
sawr1ii. his store. and likewise his
home. 10 satisfy that Judgment leav-
ing the employer penniless. even
though he was not helpless as the
empIoye would have been had he not
heen compensated for his injuries
which incapacitated him
When the small employer under
stands this bin said Mr. willis he
will much prefer to be protected
against such risks as overlook this
merchant and sawmill proprietor
have here referred TO, when he can
do so for the trifie of ten or twelve
dollars a year for an insurance policy
Had this employer been operating
under the provisions OF this law he
would simply have told the insurance
company 70 pay this injured employs
what he is entitled to under the Law
and both would have been provided
for"
Delegate Easley, of Halifax. mads
ringing speech in support of the bill
az much desired law for the protee
ton of employer and employc alike
Delegate Bailey made a short and
telling speech In favor of the bill