Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-05

the facts. They are that, with Mr..
Peakes' brief before it, a sub-commit
tee on judiciary drafted new BILL
embodying the best points of such
bills as were submitted. The resultant
bill followed nothing more closely than
it did the law of one of our neighbor-
ing states, and was entirely satisfac-
tory to the Republicans who had
fought for it and were instrumental in
its framing.
Representative kavanaugh of Port
land was the father of bill which
says that preference shall be given
Maine labor and Maine contractors in
all work done by State. city. town.
county, charitable and educational in
situations. supported in whole or in
part by the State. Nothing was ever
enacted which more clearly presented
the feeling toward the laboring men
than that law, which was drafted and
fathered by a Republican. passed by
Republican Legislature and signed
by Republican Governor.
The law creating State Board OF
Cancellation and Arbitration is a dis
tinct credit to the State of Maine
Already much has been accomplished
under It and it has by no means reach
ed the full measure of it's usefulness
Under it three men, one representing
labor ,one representing the employer
are at the service of any employer OF
body of employees, feeling that they
have a grievance against each other
1t is declared by competent authority
that this law is as good as any in any
state OF the Union.
In addition to these, which are only
the most important. there were many
other bills, all calculated to strength
en- existing labor legislation. or put
ting new safeguards about the condi-
tions and wages of the workingman
Perhaps the most important single
piece of labor legislation enacted into
into law in recent years. is the initia
tive and referendum. a Republican
measure. endorsed by the Republican
platform of 1906. passed by Republi
can Legislature. signed by Republi
can Governor and accepted. finally. by
a Republican electorate. almost unani-
n ously
The department of labor, as has al
ready been noted. was created BY the
Republican Legislature of 1887 and un
der that law the bureau stands today
the one distinctly representative de-
partment dedicated to the cause OF
labor.
Maine now has laws which forbid
children under IA years of age to work
in its manufacturing establishments
under any circumstances. They must
have a certificate as to age and edu-
cational qualifications if they work be-
fore they are Is. They cannot work
more than So hours in single week.
The wage earners of Maine can col
lect their wages fortnightly. thanks to
the fortnightly payment bill introduced
in the Legislature of 1887 by Repub-
lican and passed that year.
Labor union trade marks are pro-
tected: railroad trains must have a
brakeman for every two cars; the frogs
in railroad tracks must be blocked; 10
hours is d legal days work for men
platforms on street cars where motor
men must stand must be enclosed dur
ing the winter months. plumbers are
licensed, certain occupations are es-
pecially designated as untitled for chill
dren and they are forbidden to engage
in them; elevators must not be run by
boys less than Is years of age; lime,
lime rock, granite, slate, bricks, build
ings, lots, wharves, piers. hay, straw.
shingles, slaves, lathes, bowels and
shovel handle blocks have all been
made subject to liens by workingmen
for their wages.
Names labor laws are far ins adj
= :