Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-20

presented in the House an act aut thor
iZing the Somerset X. X. to issue 81 GOA. -
900 additional stock which NAV be civ
en- preference in dividends under such
PROVISIONS as the stock holders and di-
rcctors may determine.
The hearing before the committee on
labor on the bill proposing to reduce
the total number of hours in any one
week which women and children may
work in factories from 60 to IS hours,
was held in the Senate chamber Tues
day afternoon.
The proposed amendment brought be-
fore the committee one Of the largest
delegations OF manufacturers in the
cotton, wooden and shoe industries that
ever appeared at the State House.
Among them We're W. D. Pcnncll Of
Lewiston, Elmer F. Page of York
Louis +. GOodall of Sanford, Robert T..
Eaton Of brunswick, j. H. Litchfield,
Frank II. Briggs, Charles l.. CuShman.
Henry Packard, A. II. Cooper and +.
NJ Stevens of Auburn, George w.
Beane, Henry Mckusker and w. Scott
Libby Of Lewiston, Robert Macarthur Of
EidGCfOrd, Gordon Dobson Of Pittsfield
and many others.
The case Of the proponents was
opened very ably by Rep. Henry +.
Frost of Lewiston, who introduced the
bill. He introduced as the first speaker
John ByTncs If Lewiston.
Mr.. Byrncs in opening pointed out the
fact that the change in machinery has
made the work of the operatives much
harder He continued:
III I vas to say to you that there was
TO need to pass this legislation l would
be telling a falsehood. | ask you to
come and stand by the mill gate and
see those women and children come out
from their work. Their faces are as
white as the snow under their feet. [
ask you to pass this legislation in the
interests Of humanity"
In answer to questions put by Judge
r. +. Cleaves of Biddeford, Mr.. Byrnes
stated that in his opinion the mill oper-
atiVeS would be enough stronger under
the short time 50 that as great an
amount of work would be done as now.
Albert Hilbert of Fall River. general
secretary of the United Textile Workers
Of America, was the next speaker. He
said that in his city the corporations
had f. und that the shorter hours are
no burden.
The witness was examined at some
length by Judge Cleaves.
T. l.. leighton of SacO, secretary Of
the Central Labor Union Of Biddeford
and SaCo, said that he had been sent
before the committee to urge them to
report favorabIy on the bill. He said
that al the operatives that he had ever
seeIt ami talked with would like to see
the bill become a law.
John Golden, general president of the
United Textile Workers, was the next
to be called.
He believed that the manufacturers
would make n mistake in opposing the
bill. He said:
"-The manufacturers have for their
biggest problem the securing OF plenty
of skilled textile help. What is the rca-
son? Parents are not allowing their
children to go into the mills when they
can find any other work to do. They
only 90 into the mill when forced to by
circumstances.
",rhey have in Connecticut a bill for
~ hours and believe that they are GO
ing to get shorter day. In Rhode IS
land they are going to do something
too.
~ want to speak of this dollars and
cents argument. Any man who has
stucied the industrial movement has
ALWAYS found that shorter hours
brought about an equal or greater pro-
duction. The question for years has
been speed. and if l should speak OF inc
limits reached in some localities these
manufacturers would not believe 1t.
"There is a little more than dollars
and cents entering into this thing
r,here must be something done to pre-
serve our race. Many manufacturers
would like to see all the women ana
children out of the mill. but since TINS
cannot be done. let us make the condi-
,ions at least human
answer to questions as TO wages
tho witness said that there was NOT
much difference in the different cues
ON account of the trahSpor'a-
tion facilities and the better means
Of communications.
Samuel Ross of New Bedford was the
next sneaker. He sand: Il come h"fA
bor,ing that you will listen I" me as