Show 1 MORE RADICAL LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY CONGRESSMAN i Goes Far Beyond the Present Em Employers Employers players Liability Law Scope of the Bill Washington Feb 6 GOne One of the most radical pieces or oi proposed legislation before the present Congress and one which heretofore has lIas not occupied d much attention is now being given serious consideration by bythe bythe bythe the judiciary committee of the House and a hearing on it has been ordered for February 17 to which a number of prominent railroad men of the country have been invited It is the bill introduced by Representative tive Sabath of Illinois which will require all persons carrying on occupations and trades subject to the regulative power of o congress including railroads express companies and sleeping car companies to pay la compensation on fixed basis to injured The legislation if en enacted enacted enacted acted would overturn the present em employers employers employers liability law and in fact revo revolutionize revolutionise the existing system of oC indemnity indemnity indemnity for personal J injuries The bill defines the amount amo nt of or o compensation compensation compensation to be paid by employers to em in cases eases of injury or death basing it upon the amount of the previous earn earil in ins Ingo power of f the victim and provided that it shall be paid in the form fonn of an annuity V Based on Foreign Laws Law The Mil bill is based upon the laws of Eng England England England land and Germany Such legislation was favored in irk one olle of the messages message of for former former mer mor President Roosevelt and President Taft also alfeo is said to have commented fa favorably favorably favorably upon it Representative Moon of Pennsylvania chairman of the subcommittee of or the tile Ju dietary committee analyses the bill in a aletter aletter aletter letter which he has hall sent to officials of ofIe leading Ie railroad V Mr Ir Moon roon says in part pert You will observe this thi bill bUl both by its title and its Ite It scope cope aims at the entire overthrow of the existing principles of law respecting the liability of common carriers engaged in interstate commerce and in the carrying of the man malls to their employee for acts of negligence resulting in injury in ry or death It n eliminates e entirely all common law lawor lawOr lawor or statutory defenses based upon the principles of contributory or comparative negligence the existing doctrine of neg negligence negligence I of es and of f risk of employment and subjects the common I carrier earlier to fixed and definite liability for injury or death to employee without re regard reI regard I gard to the negligence n of the defendant I Effect of Proposed Law LawIt LawI I It substitutes statutory compensation I for common law liability and make makes this compensation a 11 distinct element of I operating This bill i being vigorously pushed I by its promote Ono ne hearing already Continued on Page Two I I RADICAL lEGISlATION IS NOW PROPOSITION Continued from Page One has been ben had by the subcommittee The hearing was wa confined entirely to the prin principle principle principle ciple involved not to the details of at the bill bi The hearing haring developed the fact that the change proposed by the bill bi was so radical and If enacted into law would impose an obligation upon common car carriers carriers carriers of at the country engaged In inter interstate Interstate interstate state commerce so O different from that al already already already ready existing that the committee would riot not be justified In passing upon it with without without without out affording an opportunity to them to tobe tob tobe be heard b In pursuance of this action acton we have postponed the hearing hering until Thursday February 17 at 1030 1020 10 a m at which time and place we shall be glad to hear the views of your company upon the sub subject subject jeet Mr 11 Moon said that his committee had been seriously impressed by b this pro proposed proposed proposed posed legislation and we are giving It I the te most careful consideration Propaganda of the Author Mr r Sabath author of at the bill bi has been working on the tho idea Idea for tor a number of years and has ha carried on a general propaganda In its it favor He announced at a recent hearing on this bill bU that that when It was enacted Into law he was ready fled fied rady with I to retire his achievements from public life le satis satisfied sata fed The bill bi Is applicable to railroad and steamship companies engaged In inter interstate interstate interstate state or foreign commerce and to any an company engaged In any capacity in handling the mails mais of the tho United States Even Eyen the United States would be bound under Its terms to pay compensation to its in the postal service injured or It killed In the performance of their thuir duties dutes In the event of the death of an em as a result of Injuries employers would be required to pay an annuity equaling 70 per cent of ot his average monthly earnings earning to his family or next of at kin Fifty per ler cent cont of the paid In case of total disability not ex ox exceeding ceding six months Beyond that length of ot time the injured would re receive receive receive of ot the amount of his earnings earing Minute Details The measure goes Into the minutest detail In regulating payment for tor Injuries specifying how much shall be paid for forthe tho the loss of an eye an arm a finger a atoe atoe atoe toe loss or impairment of at sight hearing or similar injury and Including medica medical Surgical and hospital treatment treatment The loss of a toe is fixed at 5 per cent Tho loss of ot both eyes at 75 per cent the tho loss 1058 of the right hand at 60 per cent cent The bill would establish a court to be known bi as the federal commission of at In Injury Injun injury jury jun awards The court would consist of three members appointed by the President at a salary salar of ot 60 per year and would have full ful authority to In Inquire Inquire quire into and prosecute claims and to employ necessary assistants |