EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 7

EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY.

s ' AMERICAN. BILL. ' I TELKiiArn—rnrss association— copthiohi 1 '(Ilec. April 7, 9.22 p.m.) ' New York, April 7. , Tho Hou'so of Representatives at' Wash■ ington ' passed the Employers' Liability Bill, amid the' applause' of the Democrats. ; LEGAL OBSTACLES. '■'The Employers' Liability Act was declared ■unconstitutional by tho Federal- Supremo jCourt, and President Roosevelt in his last Message' to ; Congress' urged its re-onactme'nt in . such--;form .as.to avoid legal difficulties. Tho Washington correspondent of "The Times" writes:— "The decision of the Supreme Court declaring the, Employers' Liability Law enacted on June 11; 1906, unconstitutional will bo a great disappointment to . the President and others . who havo advocated better conditions for the working classes. It indicates'that infinite patience will be required ill framing' legislation of: this character in view 'of the complex questions that, arise before the Courts. '■ '' . "Had the decision been unaniirious Congress would have'been bettor able to judgo where power stood. ;But foiir judges wero in favour of,| the' law. and five were 'against-it. The opinion of. one dissenting judge declared the law wholly constitutional. There were different shades of opinion in the. case of tho other dissentient judges, and even in the ease of tho five, who ruled against tho statute... It is understood that a new Bill' \rill be 'intra;, duccd and probably pushed through: this session, which .will attempt to meet tho objections, of tho Court.".