Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-20
HALLowELL, Me, Feb. Is.

.
uALLo" hhl' Me- reo' TO-
To the Editors of the Lewiston Journat.-
An intelligent gentlemen, himself much in
terested in industrial questions. and especial.
" an aimirer of fine cattle, visited Hon. j.
r. Bodweli the early part of this week at his
.to * farm in Hallowell, and had long con-
versation with him, touching matters that
are now engaging the public interest. He
found Mr. Bodwell as usual busy about his
many enterprises, but ready to give frank ex-
preston upon any subject. The following
conversation ensued:
Mechanic.-What are yonr views, Mr..
Bodwell, touching the question of peremp-
tory ten-hour law?
Mr.. Bodwell.-Well, when | was a Young
man had to work twelve hours a day. and
there never was dav that should not have
been glad to strike off two hours NV mature
Judgment, both as laborer and an employ
er, 10 that ten hours should be the limit of a
days work. Instead of leaving the question
open for dispute and bad feeling, | think the
law making power should step in and make
it absolute; so that for regular DAVIS wages
no man, woman or child should be compelled
to work over ten hours That is not a recent
Judgment OF mine, but is one upon which |
have long acted in my employment of men.
Mechanic-Would not the agents of onr
large factories object to this?
Mr.. Bodwell Possibly they might at
first, but in the end they would find that ten
hours one day carries over to the next a man
of vigor for the next days work, which more
than compensatps for the hour or the hour
and half that would be dropped in many of
the factories There is nothing so homeless
a. to have man 90 to work this morpiny st;ll
~ 81,
that in month am sure that man will do
more work at ten hours dav than he will at
IL or IL l-2 hours. lie might not do it for a
single day, but you have got to look at it bv
the month or the year
Mechanic.-Do YOU not think the factories
employ children at too tender an age for
work?
Mr. Bodwell.-Ye do But the fact is
that the manufacturers are not so much TO
blame in this matter a. the parents are. Pa.
rents and guardians solicit employment for
their children and often misrepresent their
ages. | think 90 child should be received
into a factory or permitted to work under
fifteen years of age. This gives them time
to get a good amount of schooling and to
grow strong and healthy. If Won mt them
in the factory at eleven or twelve. or even
as low as ten. as have known cases. Won in
evtablv ruin or seriously iniure the health
of the children and doom them to grow nm in
ignorance. | think the law should be yery
firm on this point and strictly enforced under
severe penalties, and it should apply both tn
parents and the factory agents.
Mechanic. What do YOU think of the
present administration of the law in regard
to trustee process on wages?
Mr.. Bodwell. Il think the troubla tbere
would be cured to considerable extent if
the payment Of wages were made weekly
You pay a man only once month. and being
little behind he goes in debt for his living ::
but if YOU nav him weekly. prompt and sure
he will have no occasion to run up bills at
stores He can buy for cash and that W i'll save
him him a good deal of money, and it will he
better for the trader, and for the workmen.
think if weekly payments should be estab-
lished the whole trustee process upon wages
of workingmen should be abolished The law
should be repealed and wage. should no lon
ger be liable to attachment. EVERYTHING
then would be on a cash basis and great good
would result to all parties And right there
l have another sugg stiou to make. 7
would not have Saturday for pay day. If
there are any rum shops around thew are snre
to get hold of the man that is disposed to
drink, on Saturday and Sunday. and the
weeks wages. instead of going to his family
often get used up in spree. think il
would be far better to take the middle of tho
week and nav them off on Wednesday a, close
of work. The families would then get the
benefit of their wages.
Mechsnic-Wel. if Won abolish att.chmant
of wage. in this wav, YOU would not allow
men to be imprisoned for debt.
Mr.. Bodwell-Well, | think that il barbs