Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-19
1t seems that there has been permitted
the sale of milk in bottle which might

I "
that it was the custom for the sealer
| when he had sealed few bottles to
judge the rest of the case according
ly; and at the hearing it developed
| that the dealers in most cases had
| managed to use the small bottles; and
| the bottle manufacturers said that in
variably where states allowed the use
of bottles of under-size they had or
| ders for those bottles from the milk
| men. The committee after looking the
matter over carefully felt that every
man buying milk should have a good
honest quart which, the national
| standard milk quart requires. 80
| ounces, and the farmers were willing
! that they should have it, and so they
! fixed this standard that every bottle
| should contain 81 ounces and not over
three grams over quart, pint bottles
| should contain 16 ounces and not over
| two grams over pint. and half pint
| bottles ounces and not over l gram.
| 1t was shown that it would be almost
| impossible to get a full quart or pint
into an exact bottle, there would be
| froth or something of that kind so it
| would vary little; but the consum-
ers are sure to get good honest quarts
and pints and half pints with these
| bottles which we have recommended.
An objection has been made that it
| is going to throw the whole thing into
| the hands OF a few manufacturers The
parties manufacturing bottles appear
ed before us and said that it was not
very difficult to get bottles that were
almost accurate, that in the manufac-
| iol I,a
production of these bottles was of ac-
curate weight and was put into a press
| and that q very small percentage of
them varied from being correct. They
said that they might vary by being TAX
en- out of this press in very hot con-
dition and being stretched a little. or
being hot when set down they might
vary n little, but a very small percent
age of them would vary to any extent,
and the expense to the parties using
these bottles would be very trifling.
| Now after giving this matter consid-
GRAFTON we felt that we were giving
| the consumers OF milk a good honest
quart every time which they had failed
| to get under the old systems. I GER
tanly hope that the report of the COM
mittee which was unanimous will be
adopted
Mr.. ROUNDS of Portland: Mr..
| Speaker, l am glad to hear that the
gentleman from Standish wants them
| to have a full quart and three drains
| over. Yesterday he wanted the milk
men to have pint over. But when he
comes to know that one firm in
| Pennsylvania that has got this ma
| chine for making bottles has got the
reople of the state of Maine by the
| throat when you see that we have got
| to pay not only one cent for this bot
| tile business but another cent and
about half cent to the dealer and the
| consumer another half cent for this
kind Of q bottle that the bill calls for,
| think it ought to make a difference
| in our view of the matter. When you
| consider that any dealer has to pay
| 100000 for that machine it looks to
| me as though you We're legislating in
| favor of the trusts, it looks to me as
| though you are afraid to have the 9TH
err bottling people come in here and
say Il word. This bill was introduced
at the instigation of the sealer Of
| weights and measures in Portland. No
| body else seemed to want it except
| him and one bottling concern in Penn
sylvania 1t looks to me that other bot
| ting concerns should have come in and
| should have had a chance to be heard
| as we'll as the bottle makers of one
concern in Pennsylvania; therefore 1
want the bill recommitted so the other
side can be heard. 1t seems as though
| they don't want to have competition,
| they want to go in for trusts in this
Legislature.
The question being shall the House
insist and ask for a committee of con-
ference:
The motion was lost.
Mr. Rounds called for a division
A division was had and 20 voted in
the affirmative and 46 in the negative.
SO the motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Cousens the House
voted to recede and concur.
Mr.. Rounds moved that the bill be
| laid on the table pending third read
ing.
Mr.. COUSINS: Mr.. Speaker: I OPP
pose this motion to delay this matter
after taking the action that we have
taken here. l don't see any reason why
is evident that the only reason is to
delay the matter. This is a matter Of
| Importance and it is q matter that the
people are interested in and they de
mand that it should have it's regular
passage; therefore l object to it's being
tabled.
| Mr.. ROUNDS: Mr.. Speaker: I did
not know that the gentleman wanted
| to run rough-shod right over the House
| because there are a few farmers here
| who think they can run it. They have
| got all the laws they want in regard
| to different things and now they say
that the people cannot have anything
| else here but just what a few people
in the country want. There may be
some good reasons why / want to. lay
| it on the table. The gentleman says
no. II it is to be the policy of the
House that no bill should be laid on
| the table say so and from this time
out will be with them and vote with
them.
Mr.. COUSINS: Mr.. Speaker: The
gentleman from Portland (Mr Rounds)
has been DESTROYS to look into every