charge being deducted by the employer from his wages and the other third being paid by the employer himself. This makes the contribution of the workmen equivalent to only about a cent and a half on the dollar of his wages, and for it he receives in case of sickness medical attendance and medicines and half pay for thirteen weeks, if he is sick so long, and if he has to enter a hospital his family receive one-half of his sick pay. The second branch covers insurance against accidents, and for this the employers are required to pay the premiums, which are proportioned to the number of mem employed and the scale of risk. If the worker is completely disabled by accident he receives a pension of twothirds of his wages, up to a certain amount, and an equitable proportion when practically disabled. In case of death a pension of 20 per cent. of his wages is allowed to the widow with a percentage to each child. The third branch is for insurance against old age and disability. The premiums vary from 1d. to 4d. per week and are paid by the employers, who deduct one-half of the premium from the wages and pay the other half themselves. From this fund the workers when laid aside are paid small pensions, varying in proportion to their wages. One of the leading railway periodicals in this country thus discusses the subject: "Legislation to compel men to make provision for the future is a recognition of the fact that a large majority of mankind is naturally improvident or else lacking in ability to accumulate money for a time of need, and it is certainly a kindly and merciful supervision by the country over its citizens. The same principle makes it the right and the duty of railway companies to insist that their employes engaged in an especially hazardous calling shall also lay aside in small periodical sums a portion of their wages which, in connection with a liberal contribution by the employing company, shall form a fund to meet the cases of necessity which invariably must occur. The great railway companies like the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore & Ohio, Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Union Pacific, and others which have established a relief fund for their employes have also contributed largely toward it, besides giving what is of the utmost importance in such an undertaking, the services of competent men to carry on the work of benevolence upon safe business principles. It is impossible to understand why some railway employes are opposed to these relief and aid. associations in which the companies have part. The objection seems to be to the plan of deducting from the employe's wages 1. Railway Age. * * * each month the very small sum which is required to entitle him to the benefits of the organization; but this is certainly the best, safest and cheapest way of obtaining the necessary funds, and it is a narrow and selfish view which a man takes of the noble work which these organizations contemplate and accomplish, when he objects to being taxed a pittance monthly because it has happened that he himself has not had need of the relief and his money has gone to help some less fortunate fellow. It is impossible to see any sound argument against the existence of railway aid and relief associations, and on the other hand it must be seen on serious consideration to be the duty of railway companies to make systematic and certain provision for the benefit of their employes in order to diminish the amount of suffering and sorrow incident to inevitable sickness, accident and death which are now experienced by so large a share of our railway employes and their families from lack of the relief which money thus provided would have given. No man need lose his self respect by working for another and surrendering his right of voluntary action for an equivalent, and when one requirement of the employer is made solely for the benefit of the employed, and is admirable because it is free from the selfishness which influences most of the relations of men toward their fellows, it is a narrow and wholly unfair view which looks upon it as tyranny and seeks to excite opposition to it. The fact remains that employers of men, and especially railroad companies, are morally as well as legally responsible for the protection of their employes so far as possible against the calamities which their calling and often their own improvidence render them liable to. The question that ought to be asked in regard to the aid and relief associations which some of the railway companies have inaugurated is not "Don't you fear that it will encroach upon your American rights?" but "Is the result which it secures beneficial to you and your family?" We imagine that if the votes of the wives and children—and especially of the widows and fatherless, who, but for the provision which the company insurance methods have given them, would be penniless-were invited, they would be strongly in favor of any and all honest and safe protective measures which can be undertaken for those upon whom they are dependent. The history of voluntary insurance associations. is full of financial wrecks resulting from mismanagement and dishonesty. The railway companies who have taken the matter of insurance in hand give to it not only money, but the services of experienced business men and the backing of their own solvency They certainly can and do furnish insurance as cheaply as any brotherhood or other employes' organizations can, and at the same time they furnish far greater evidence of safety." § 3. Release of Employers from Liability for Injury.— The benefit which employers derive from employes relief associations or insurance societies is sometimes made to include immunity from suits by the employes where they are injured by the negligence of the employer. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company exacts from its employes, the members of the Baltimore & Ohio Employes Relief Association, an agreement not to claim the benefit of the relief fund if they prefer to sue for injuries received. This provision has been held to be reasonable and valid by the Supreme Court of Maryland.1 "The occupation of many of the employes of a railroad is especially hazardous." Said the Court: "Accidents are constantly happening to them without default on the part of the company that employs them. In such cases they can have no redress except from an insurance. A compulsory insurance may at first blush seem harsh, but an insurance to some extent by general consent is deemed advisable, especially to those who have others dependent upon their daily labor. The provision against the double benefit and exacting the release is one not unreasonable for the company to make, interested as it is as a guarantor and in other ways. The employes have the right to decline the service of the company under such conditions, but if they accept it, knowing the conditions, they are bound by them, unless these conditions are so unreasonable that a court would pronounce them void." Nor is such a provision against public policy, as it simply puts a claimant to his election whether he will look to the railroad company or to the relief association for compensation. It has been held, however, that a person is not estopped from claiming compensation from the railroad company for an injury resulting from a collision by having been previously compensated by the relief association for the injury which he then untruthfully alleged was caused by malaria, jaundice, constipation, etc., as the railroad company and the association are separate corporations, and, while the former guarantee all the contracts of the latter, yet the association funds were sufficient to meet all liabilities likely to arise. Where a member 1. Fuller v. Relief Assoc., 67 Md. 433; s. c. 19 Am. & Eng. Corp. Cas. 43. 2. Owens v. Baltimore & O. R. Co., 35 Fed. Rep. 715. 3. Owens v. Baltimore & O. R. Co., of such a relief association designated his mother in his application for membership as his beneficiary in case of his death, and upon his death his wife and child, the persons legally entitled to damages if the death was the result of negligence on the part of the railroad company, not releasing the railroad company, brought suit and recovered damages by compromise, it has been held that the mother could not recover the benefits from the relief association.1 § 4. London and North Western Insurance Society. The Insurance Society of the London and North Western Railway of England, being one of the largest and most prosperous of these associations in existence, may be taken as a fair example of the English method of conducting them. This society is not registered under the statutes relating to Friendly societies, but is established under special statutory authority obtained in the private acts relating to the railway company. RULES. 1. This Society shall be called "The London and North Western Railway Insurance Society." 2. The offices of this Society shall be at Euston Station. 3. The object of this Society is to provide pecuniary relief in cases of temporary or permanent disablement, arising from accident occurring while in the discharge of duty, and also in all cases of death. 4. The members of this Society shal. De persons in the service of the London and North Western Railway Company, or employed jointly in the service of the London and North Western and any other railway company, who are engaged at weekly wages. The servants engaged at weekly wages on the Dundalk Newry and Greenore Railway, and upon the Shropshire Union Canal, shall also be eligible to become members of this Society. Members transferred to the salary list who are, in consequence of age, precluded from joining the Superannuation Fund, shall be allowed to remain members of the Society, if they so elect. 5. The affairs of this Society shall be under the management of a Committee, composed of 12 members, to be nominated by the Delegates appointed to represent the members of the Society 35 Fed. Rep. 715. 67 Md. 433. 1. Fuller v. Baltimore & O. R. Co., in the manner provided for in Rules 16 and 17; and, in addition to the members so nominated, the London and North Western Board shall have the power of nominating three members of the Committee of Management, and from time to time may vary or re-appoint such members; and such members are hereinafter termed the Company's nominees. 6. At the first meeting after their election, the Committee shall appoint a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman from their own body, who shall preside at all meetings of this Society during their term of office. 7. Five members of the Committee shall form a quorum, who, in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, may choose a chairman for the occasion. 8. The Committee shall be at liberty to adopt from time to time any regulations, for their own guidance, or to facilitate the transaction of the business of the Society, provided such regulations are not inconsistent with the objects or rules of the Society. 9. The Trustees of the Society shall be the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary of the London and North Western Railway Company for the time being, or any two of them. All property of the Society shall be vested in the Trustees for the time being, for the use and benefit of the Society and its members. No Trustee shall be liable to make good any deficiency which may arise or happen in the funds of the Society, nor be liable except for moneys which shall be actually received by him on account of the Society. 10. The Committee shall appoint a Secretary who shall be subject to removal at their discretion. The Committee shall fix the salary of the Secretary and any other officers of the Society; and such salaries, as well as the other expenses of the management, shall be paid out of the funds of the Society. II. The Secretary shall once in six months, at a time to be regulated by the Committee, and also at any time when required by a majority of the Trustees, or of the Committee, render an account of all moneys received and paid by him on account of the Society; and shall also, when required by a majority of the Trustees for the time being, pay over all moneys, and assign and deliver all securities, papers, and property of the Society in his hands or custody, to such person as a majority of the Trustees shall appoint. He shall be responsible to the Trustees for all moneys paid into his hands on account of the Society, and such moneys |