The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-12-01
Manufacturers Don't Want
Weekly Payment Law.
WHILE THEIR WORKMEN Do
Opposing Forces Met Before Senate Ju-
dietary Committee Last Evening.
Resulting in a Decidedly In
teresting Time.

How are you, Brother Bruceg / ain
glad to see you're around when the pub
lie good has to be conserved was the
rather tart greeting corporation counsel
H. II. Powers Of the Rutlnnd r. r. gave
Fred Bruce Of the Barre Central Labor
Union 1T the weekly payment bill hear
ing before the Senate judiciary commit
tee last evening And the flow Of words
was on. 1t continued fof three solid
hours. The hearing was held in the
large coat room at the State House III
Montpelier and the place was crowded
to the doors with an audience OF eager
listeners. The weekly payment bill
hearing always brings out some interest
ing debates and last evenings session
was no different than usual.
Practically the whole discussion ne
VOWED about Barre and the granite busi-
ness. And the unexpected thing about
1t was the appearance Of a dozen or more
representatives Of the Barre manufact
urers who protested vigorously against
the passage Of the BILL Heretofore the
granite manufacturers have kept silent
on the matter. Next to Attorney Pow
ers OF the Rutland r r., they were the
chief obiectors last evening. The bill
was defended by representatives of Barre
unions in great part, there being a dele
cation Of dozen or more present. Or
ganizer Fred Bruce and Alex Robertson,
secretary Of the cutters union, were the
principal speakers for that side.
The bill which provides weekly pay
ments by corporations, viii most likely
find its grave ia the Senate chamber,
even though 1t should be reported favor
ably by the committee, OF which Senator
Slack is chairman, which is unlikely.
The Senate always has been the STUN.
bling block to the measure In its oft
repeated attempt to pass the Vermont
Legislature.
Much the same arguments were used
pro and con as have been used in times
past, the defenders claiming that the
money il theirs when earned and they
are entitled To ii, that they would be
able to get cash discounts on their pur
ehases, etc. and the opponents objeeting
to it on the grounds Of impraeticahility
and unconstitutionaIity Each side was
allowed to question indiscriminatAy and
there were decidedly interesting colo
qnies, some Of which were even applaud
ed.
Representative Smith OF Rutland who
introduced the bin in the House, present
cd d petition signed by $500 names OF
workmen of Vermont asking for weekly
payments-the same petition put before
the House committee and which was
kept from Attorney Powers, causing him
to make some caustic remarks. Repre-
sentative Smith laid the petition down
on the table and Powers pounced upon
it with the avidity Of dog discovering
"a bone. lie ran his finger down the
column Of names and then settled back
with a look OF satisfaction.
"Mr. Smith" he queried, Is this the
same petition presented to the House
committeefs
4 suppose So
Are those the Rutland signers under
Rutland, ~ "A part Of them"
Is that handwriting the same y was
the next question, while the questioner
ran his finger down the column.
Il couldn't say" was the reply.
Again the same question was asked,
this time little more forcibly, eliciting
the same response, with the additional
statement that he tSmith) didn't know
any thing about the petition except that
it was handed to him.
"Are there several names in the same
handwritinggg continued Powers, hold
ing the petition before Smiths eyes
"There may be- was the latter's re-.
ply.
Then Powers made the statement that
his former suspicions were confirmed,
that some one had sat down and wrote
Ia lot OF names Of his own accord in
other words the petition was deliberately
padded" He said that the Rutland
X. II, employees do not want weekly
payments and added further that when
they wanted them they would get them.
Representative Pape Of Barre city,
Brooks Of st. Albans town, Maxfeld 0f
johnson, and Malone of Fair Haven and
Fred Bruce and Alex Robertson were the
speakers for the bill. Bruce said that
he represented the working1nen cf Yer
mont, and particularly Of Barre and
vicinity. lie was interrogated by vii
liam Alexander, president Of the Barre
Granite Manufacturers Association
Are you delegated by the Barre TN
ions to come here because they are dis
Isatisfedfn
Il am here because they sent me here
to work for weekly payments"
Have not the Barre unions in effect
an agreement which Is to run three years
vet, in which there is pay day clauseS"
Yes, they have, but no clause greater
than the laws Of Vermont
eIs your position consistent ia repu-
dating your agreement with some cor
porations IN Barre9" Il hold myself
amenable," said Bruce, to the laws
Of Vermont
Would You advise the men 10 re-
pudiate their agreemently
Il shall advise my union men 10 stand
by their agreement"
Then Powers questioned Bruce. You