Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-02

City Marshal Harmon of Biddeford,
is not devoid of a sense Of humor as is
shown in proclamation issued by him
TO the citizens warning them to beware
of crooks now infesting the city. The
marshal starts out as follows: I'm pur-
suance of the liberal invitation extend
ed to the fakirs and crooks of this coun-
try to attend the fair recently held by
the York County Agricultural Society,
a large number of such gathered there,
and without restraint practiced their
nefarious games and victimiZed many
persons From the very favorable con-
sideratiOn that such crooks received
while there, am of the opinion that
many of them feel encouraged to the
extent that they have seen fit to re-
main in and about this locality and are
INDUCING in their favorite paStimes,
such as. passing worthless checks and
breaking into, and robbing the resi-
derces of our citizens" At the time Of
the fair, spoken of, we called attention
to the action of it's management as en-
tirely unworthy of men put over an in
stitution which ought to be a power for
SDOu III tIc liISlSdo VI lot
evil and that the same position is TAX
en- by the marshal is shown by his
proclamation. The fair managers
ought to feel proud of the fact that
they We're not only the instruments in
getting a gang of toughs into the coun-
ty-but are also responsible indirectly
for a number of robberieS and forgeries
practiced upon the citizens of the cities
and towns in that vicinity. If that sort
of thing isn't what agricultural fairs
are for, why not?-Waterville Mall
If we remember correctly Marshal
Harmon had difference of opinion
with the Saco authorities respecting
the maintenance of police supervision
over the fair. Possibly some other than
a sense of humor dictated the criticism
of Marshal Harmon. 1t looks, however,
as though the burden of proof was OH
the fair management
Carroll d. Wright in an article on
factory inspection in the United States
has something to say respecting the
law in Maine. Reference is made to
| the first inspection service organized
in Maine by the act of March H. 1887,
part of the act being quoted. The COM
missioner says concerning it: 1T will
be seen that no really effective system
of inspection was provided by this act
The powers of the deputy were strictly
limited to that of inspection and report
The means of enforcing his orders,
without which inspection has little
raison d'etre, were absolutely wanting"
The commissioner says that the act of
the Legislature of March, 1893, made il
the duty of inspectors to examine con-
| corning the extent to which the law
about doors swinging outward was
complied with, and as to the sanitary
condition of factories, workshops, mines
| and quarries, and to report annually to
the governor. Under the provisions of
this law. reports have been made since
1898. and are Incorporated in labor sta
tistics. Though the law states that it
is the duty of the inspector to enforce
certain laws" the commissioner con-
cludes. there is no way specified by
which this shall be done, and the re-
ports of the inspector do not indicate
that he ever ordered any changes to be
made or attempted any prosecutions, in
order to enforce labor laws"
Now the wires 60 underground In