Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-15

the passage of this bill.
Mr.. Davies of Yarmouth, moved that
the bill be laid on the table for fur
Their consideration.
The motion was lost.
The question being on the motion
to Indefinitely postpone the bill,
The motion was lost.
Mr.. Flaherty Of Portland, offered
amendment "A" by striking out in the
third line of Section the sixth word
and inserting the word may"
Mr.. Dyer of Buckfeld. Mr.. Decker
posed the amendment
The question being on the adoption
of amendment "a"
The amendment was lost
Mr.. Lord of Parsonfield, offered
amendment 3D." by making the bill
apply to only towns and cities of more
than 2000 Inhabitants
Mr.. HALL of Dover: | am interest
ed in this amendment as excluding the
country towns. | see no difference be-
tween the danger Of a steam tubular
boiler located in q city and one located
IN the country. In my town in some of
our school buildings, particularly in
our college fitting academy, we have Il
steam tubular boiler, quite Il large one,
capable of standing considerable pres
sure. l can see where it would be very
dangerous to have an incompetent per-
son in charge of that boiler. | believe
it is just as easy to procure competent
help that vii! not be Very much more
expensive than incompetent help.
know that under certain conditions
that boiler in our school building might
be taxed to the extent Of exploding if
the water was allowed 10 get out, the
boiler hot and water suddenly intro
duccd into it. Those things do occur
AS 1t Is impossible for me to give my
personal attention to that matter
think l have Il right. as every citizen
of the State has, to have these things
controlled and have our scholars and
ourselves protected from the dangers
of these steam heating plants. | hope
the bill will pass as it was reported.
Mr.. WOOD of BluchiIl: l do not
wish to be on record as opposed to any
measure that will protect the safety of
the children in our school bulluInsN,
but it seemed to me that there was
some other motive in this bill 1t
seems to me that these boilers should
be inspected at least once year to
see II they are in proper condition.
Mr.. DYER of Buckfeld: l submit
tnat the boilers might be inspected
every day and Yet some incompetent
| Ianitor might blow them up. In rela-
ton to this amendment | would sug-
Sest that the lives of children and of
other people are just as valuable and
just as precious in small towns as they
are in large cities
Mr. DOW Of Brooks: I think this is
q good, sensible bill. | believe it is a
necessary one. I am opposed to all
amendments that have been presented
ana / wish to go on record as in favor
Of the main bill.
Mr.. MURPHY of Portland: It makes
no difference to Portland whether you
ass this bill or rot. Whoever the ma
Jority party think is fit to take care of
the boilers is going to take care of
them whether he is fitted or not This
law is not severe enough. 1t will not in
slIrc our having competent engineers
to take care Of the boilers. The men
who pass on the ability of engineers
are men who in many cases are incom-
petcnt to do 50.
Mr.. LORD of ParsOnsfield: | do not
want the impression to go out that I
am against q measure that | thought
was calculated to insure the safety of
school children. | don't believe that this
measure goes to that extent We have
been told of instances where accidents
nearly occurred; we have not been
told Of any that did occur from this
cause. It would remind one of the boys
composition on pins which had saved
the lives of so many people by their not
swallowing them. The steam plants
have in mind which my amendment
would except have been represented to
me as safe by people who | believe are
competent to judge, in regard to that
matter. l don't believe that this bill
will add to their safety one particle.
The municipal officers will simply re-
Quire that the same persons who are
now IN charge of these boilers shall go
TO them and get a certificate.
The question being on the adoption of
Amendment "B."
Tho amendment was lost.
The bill was then passed to be en-
crossed.
The Speaker appointed on the COM
nittcc Of conference on the part Of the
House on the bridge bill Mr.. Pike of
PASSPORT in place of Mr.. Weeks Of Fair
field, who was absent on account of
sickness.
Initiative and Referendum.