Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-30

brothers and sisters I have noticed that
the boys and girls working in tho mills
are nearly. if not quite, as fully devel-
oped as those outside"
1.-The most that 1 object to Dis the pro-
vision that they can't work at all until
they are IA years of age, and that l hhink
the bill ought to be amended so thai
they can work during the school vaca-
ton" On questions by Mr.. Morrison.
Mr.. Macarthur found several more sec
tons of the bill to which he objected:
in fact when Mr.. Morrison made his
questions strictly to the point. there was
little of the bill that he did net object to.
w. II. X. Abbott, agent Of the Lock-
wood mills at Waterville. thought that
the children ought to have the right to
work in the mills during the vacations in
the public schools. He also objected, af
ter being prompted by Mr.. White. to the
provisions of the bill in regard to age
certificates. He thought that there was
less need of these certificates with thu
new bill. for with the age limit ut IA
there was less frequent indUccmnnt for
the parents to misrepresent the age. He.
too, was questioned on the points Of the
bill by Mr.. Morrison.
Russell w. Eaton OF Brunswick also
appeared for the poor. He attacked the
"Horliableness' of the bill. He claimed
that child ought to have the right to
work in the mill while his parents were
getting a certificate for him. and that
they ought to have 90 days or more in
which to get it. II don: think that the
mill men object TO the essence CT your
bill" said he, addressing Mr.. Morrison,
hut it ought to make provisions for Ger
tain cases that are always coming up in
our minds" In a series of questions ask
ed by Mr.. Eaton of Mr.. Morrison as to
the conditions in other states, Mr.. Nor
rison stated that the children were oblig-
ed to show certificate before they were
allowed to go work in Massachusetts,.
DO you know that, Mr.. Morrison?"
asked Mr.. Eaton rather sharply.
II think So" was the reply.
DO you know 2" little louder.
Il think that is So" again replied the
Inspector
Wei. co you know it, This time
rather loud.
"Weli, I think so.''
And at that Mr.. Eaton resumed his seat
with a look of triumph.
w. +. Dana of the Dana Warp Mills CT
WcstbrcCk declared that if the State
IFwould enforce the prohibitory law so
many children would not be seen work.
ing in the mills.
The evening session was continuation
of the opposition and then the rebuttal
Pencil, agent OF the Hill Mfg. Co. OF
Lewiston. was the first speaker of the
evening. He gave it as his opinion. after
having been in the mill business since
1865. that the child labor situation was
largely exaggerated. He further said
that he was not entirely opposed to the
measure, providing they were given six
months in which to prepare for the
changed conditions.
George NJ. Hanson of Calais spoke par
ticrllarly OF the sardne canning indus
try, saying that this bill would pract-
caly put n stop to this industry which
does a business Of about $1,000, 900 a year.
Senator Wyman of Washington object
ed to the bill in its present form.
a. Il. Farnsworth of Northeast ITarbor
and Mr.. Lawrence of Passport endorsed
the statements of Senator Wyman.
Eugene d. Brann of Ellsworth, presi-
dent of the Maine State Federation of
abor. closed the hearing for the sup
| poIters of the bill IL a very able appeal
| for the bill. II" spoke at some length
| AMI was The recipient of applause at the
| end.