The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-20
BILL TO PERMIT
 SUING OF UNIONS
 PASSED IN HOUSE
(Continued from page one)

tives in the house, attacked the bill, declaring it to be too far-reaching and direct thrust at labor. He ln- sisted that 1t was an effort to an initiate labor organizations and will be used forever to harrass labor. He appealed to the house not to pass 1t.
 Representative Augustus Bennefs of Jefferson, replied with the declar- ation that MT. Harrison had advanced no valid argument against the bill and that there is no reason why any unincorporated association should not be held responsible for it's acts and obligations just as corporations are | now held responsible.
 Cites Birmingham Cases
 He said labor unions have never incorporated because there was no law which made them responsible in civil actions. that they are not now responsible legally for their debts or any other obligations. He mentioned that several physicians In the Bir- mingham district contracted with the l mine workers union during the strike to care for its members and that there is no means of forcing them to pay the physicians for their services. He also mentioned another unlOn leased certain plat of land and re- moved timber from it, but had re- fused either to pay the rent or pay Tor the timber.
 He also insisted that the labor unions should be suable as any cor poration, and that English law as well as the statute law of many American states provide for such suits
 Acts of individual members of the miners union during the strike were brought into the discussion by MT. Benners, who told the house two union miners left a meeting of strik- CTS, met miner who was stil Iworlt- i ing as he went toward his home with food supplies for his family and murdered him in cold blood, If this act had been committed by agents of a corporation there would not. be enough money in the state to pay the judgment which would be rendered by the jury" he commented This bill would make labor unions and all un!ncorporated associations respon- l sible for such acts"
 Didn't Understand BiH MT. Benners said he had discussed the bill with several senators since 1t was indefinitely postponed in the Senate Tuesday, ana they had in- formed him they would have voted | for it had they known just what it meant He urged the house to pass it and expressed the opinion it would be passed by the senate. l Representative A. s. Van de Graaff of Tuscaloosa followed by Benners with an appeal for the passage of the bill saying 1t would only be the l tx,hj ic ci- ness partnerships. He insisted that there was no reason why unincor- porated associations should not be sued.
 l Representative O. l.. Tompkins of Houston spoke of the political effect of the bill. saying those who voted for it would be blackllsted by labor hut he cared nothing about being blacklisted if he had done his duty as legislator He declared there was no reason why any person or l organi zation who commits wrong should not be sued in court, and no one should be exempt from answering | to legal authorities for it's acts.
 Mir. Tompkins said he was not an-
 tagonistic to labor. but he had been so regarded because he had failed to vote for every bill which had been
 proposed by labor. He was not satis- l fed with the bill in all particulars and indicated he would offer amend
 ments later.
 Representative Chauncey Sparks of Barbour opposed the bill because he felt It was too general, and would I include all religious and fraternal organizations
 Harrison Answers Benners | Representative Harrison made an- other appeal for the defeat of the bill and answered the statements of MT. Benners regarding the failure of the miners union to meet the obliga- tions growing out of the strike. He said several learned lawyers had told him the hill was very dangerous to labor organizations and to a unincorporated associations. aad that he believed the bill should bs deteat-
 ed and not amendee
 l He charged tha Inc bili grew out of the miners stril 3. which IS ended
 and which should n.t now be brought
 up for review before the house, An
 swering MT. Benners regarding ths T debts of the union. ae said All hae
 either been paid or were n process
 of payment and the or Rsni 1Ation in
 tended to meet all of igs obiigafionf
 and had always met theya.
 Mir Benners interrupted tc say sha'
 his firm had a letter fror the unior
 which said it would not aaaer any
 Circumstances pay the clailns ot the
 physicians.
 MT. Harrison replied that all bill
 had not been paid promptly becAust