Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-25

|
point of justice and humanity. but from the
standpoint of political economy, and it was
because he believed that this bill would fur
Their the interests, and advance the prosperity
not only Of the employees but of the manufac-
turing industries also, that he desired it to
become q law. He had been induced to con-
slider this subject for another reason outside
of it's human relations, and that was because
he knew that the members who are opposed
to the measure are opposed to it upon eco
nomic grounds, and desired that it should be
so considered in this House, and he would
accept their challenge. He was willing TO
place the merits of this bill entirely
upon economic grounds, and. considering
it upon economic grounds he had been
forced to the conclusion that it was in accord
ance with the most advanced civilization. the
soundest principles of state nanship and the
wisest political economy.
What are the objections to this bill? He
would refer to the report of it, They are the
same old objections which have been urged.
and met and overcome in every country and
in every State wherever legislation has ever
been attempted upon this most i'm
portant subject The objections are
that it is opposed to the interests
of manufacturing establishments. How?
Because it proposes to reduce the pro iuctve
power by reducing the hours of labor. That
is, plainly stated, you cannot produce as
much in ten hours as YOU can in eleven: that,
consequently, you reduce the production and
necessarily hurt our manufacturing
industries because they cannot compete with
other industries which work eleven hours
day, and not only do that, so it effects the
manufacturer but by reason of this very re-
duction in productive power it also reduces
Il no " uos ,,ff md IL,
it il not beneficial to the employee.
Those are the objections to this bill He
could not see how, at this advanced date of
| civilization. any man with the history of his
country and the history of anv country that
has ever legislated upon this subject, before
| him. can for moment give any
confederation upon political and economic
grounds to such falacous theories, and
groundless arguments.
Mr.. McGlllicuddy declared that this pro-
position that this law will reduce the produc-
ton, and cause the reduction of wages of
laborers and the results which would folo~s
are the merest sav-so of the opponents of the
bill. He denied that it would produce anv
such follow, and maintained that
a reduction in the hours of labor would
increase production and increase the wages
of the laborer, and make it easier for the
manufacturing corporations in this State to
, compete with these of other States who en-
| ploy labor for longer hours.
Mr.. McGilllicuddy spoke for more than an
hour, presenting statistics to sustain his po-
sition, and making a strong and an eloquent
plea in support of the bill.
| Mr.. Hale arose to reply, but suspended
until after recess.
On motion OF Mr.. Heath of Augusta voted
| to take recess until 230 z. M.
AFTER RECESS.
On motion of Mr.. Hale of Portland, the
House voted to reconsider the vote whereby
House document No. Ga, resolve in favor of
Eli Goss was indefinitely postponed. and, on
motion of the same gentleman, the resolve
was then laid on the table.
On motion of Mr.. Littefed of Rockland,
the House recOnsidered the vote whereby bill
an act additional to the charter of the Rock
land Water Co was passed to be engrossed.
and on motion of Mr.. Moore of Thomaston
the resolve was laid on the table.
MIR. Hale resumed.
The majority report of the Committee was
further supported by Messrs. Cote of Bidde-
ford and Heath of Augusta.
Mr. Walton of Skowhegan said that, in be-
half of his constituents, he must oppose the
majority bill.
Mr.. Moore OF Thomaston supported the
majority bill.
Mr.. McGillicuddy arose to make correc-
ton, and Mr.. Walton replied.
On motion of Mr.. Walton of Skowhegan,
a yea and any vote was ordered upon the mo-
ton to substitute the minority for the major
ity report resulting in the negative as follows
YEA--Messrs. Cobb. Cross, Dyer of Baldwin, Fogg
Freeman. Gilbert, Hale, Harding, Houston, Howard,
Joy, Junkins. Lewis OF Orono, Mayo. Richie,
sPrague. staples. stillings. Thayer. Walton,
NAY-Messrs. Ames. Bailey. Bartlett of MontviIle,
well. Burrill; Cha oner. Chase, Coan, Comm of
Elliot, Comins Cote. Couch. Cousens, Cowperth-
waite. Cross, Cushmau Cyr. Davis, Dickey. Duncan
Fied, fo.s F,bee Fabu.S s' Gasuon smn
Goodnow, Goodwin. GoogIns. Gu hee. Ham.
iIambet. Hamilton, Haney. Havey. Heath, Hin OF
Jones. Kaler. kellock. Kidder. Knowiton. Lam
caster. Leavitt, Lewis of North Haven, Libby.
Mcore srdner hAr Moore Me
Thomaston, Morrill,, Nelson, Nobl,. Nuttng. Cakes.
Packard, Palmer, Parsons. Perkins. Philbrook,
Sawyer, Scribner, Searls, Sewall. Simpson, Smith,
Spear, s'earns, stevens. sweetland, Thomas.
Peru, Warren Of Biddeford warren Of Mschiasport'
Whittier. Woodbury., Wyman.-l02
The majority report was then accepted.
Mr.. Heath of Augusta then moved that
the rules be suspended and that the bill have
its three several readings, and be passed to
be engrossed.
Pending the second reading of the bill Mr..
Sprague of Monson moved to amend by in
sorting the following words THE provisions
of this act shall not apply to adult women
who labor by the piece or otherwise than by
the day in wooden factories ~
The amendment was lost.
Mr.. Heath of Augusta offered the follow
in8 amendment: Strike out the words, ''the
products of which are" in the second line of
section I, and insert in place thereof the
words, "whose manufactured stock is"
The amendment was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. McGillicuddy of Lewis
ton, yea and nay vote was ordered on the
passage of the bill to be engrossed, resulting
in the affirmative as follows:
YEA-Messrs. Adams, Ames, Bailey. Bartlett of
Montville Bartlett of St0neham, Barton of Naples,
Barton of Windsor, Bea Blackwell, Brown, Burrill.
Chaloner, Chase, Coan Coffin of Lee, Cole OF Brown
field Cole of Elliot, Comns, Cote, Couch, Cousens,