Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-22

reach the desired result. for thew will
soon find that it is cheaper to protect
the men than pay damages.
''The second section is taken entirely
from the national bill and treats the
contributory negligence side of the
matter The section now reads "negli-
gence" only so that no matter how
slight the employees negligence may be
or how gross may be that of the en-
ployer, he cannot recover. This bill is
designed to overcome this VIGOROUSLY
unfair condition.
"The third section provides that if
the empioye continued in the service of
the employer after he discovered the
danger, it shall not bar recovery.
1.-THE fourth section prevents an en-
ploye from signing away his rights I'M
der this act.
Warner +. Smith Of Biddeford was
the first to be called by Mr.. Peakes. He
said that he was familiar with wood
working machinery and stated that the
same was not properly guarded in the
State of Maine. but We're in the State
OF Massachusetts. He also stated that
he represented the Carpenters Union
of his city in endorsing the bill.
f. T.. Leighton of SacO was the next
speaker. He said that he was working
for himself at the present time and rep
resented the BiddefOrd and Saco Cen
trail Labor Union. The witness said that
he was familiar with wood working
machinery and knew that it was not
properly guarded in Maine. but that it
was guarded in Massachusetts. He also
said that he bad worked in cotton
mill in some instances the machinery
was properly guarded and in some it
was not.
Mr. Leighton related an instance
where his brother was manned by
saw and could not recover under the
present law, also two instances where
lie fell from staging and was advised
that the law did not afford him any
protection.
Charles O. BealS of Auburn, cigar
maker, representing the Lewiston and
Auburn Central Labor Union. was the
next to be called He described the con-
ditions surrounding his work as cl-
gar maker.
Judge George c. Wing of Auburn,
who had questioned this witness as he
had the others. asked of the witness IL
there was any competent man present
at the meeting of the Central LABOR
Unicn when it endorsed the bill. to eX-
rlain the provisions of the bill. The
witness replied that they were all Ia
boring men.
Mr.. Davies of Yarmouth-"They were
all competent workmen. weren't they?''
MIR Beals-"They have to be sir. to
hold a union card,
Amer Nichols of Augusta said that
there was a general feeling that some
such legislation ought to be passed. He
PRODUCED several petitions in favor OF
the bill and stated that the State Fed
Grafton of Labor favored it as an organ
ization.
Judge George c. Wing of Auburn. ap-
pearing for certain shoe manufacturers
of his city, opposed the bill on the
ground that it was not fully understood
and that if it could be understood. it
| would not be so generally supported
He believed the conditions existing be-
tween employer and employee were equi-
| table and that the Verdicts under the
present law had been very fair.
The pending measure. he thought
would upset this state of affairs. MAX
ing a radical change in the existing
conditions. The interest in many cases
| of employer and employee are identical
and any accident would fall equally
heavily on both. He also stated that I'M
der this bill no insurance company
would insure employers from accident
| to employees.
Judge b. F. Cleaves of Biddeford was