Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-01
OF Bureau Of Industrial
and Labor Statistics.
Commissioner Lyons Tells Of
Bureaus Work for Year.
Repori Makes Volume Of Much IL"
terest and Value.

The annual report OF the bureau VI
Industrial and Labor Statistics JUST
filed with the Governor ana Counci'
contains an article on industrial &C
cidents and the need OF laws proVloliS
for the proper safeguarding OF dan-
gerous machinery, which points out
Inc need of such legislation from an
economic rs We'll as humanitarian
standpoint.
tremendous economic waste is the
inevitable, result of Names lack OF Id"
governing hazardous mduStrlai pur
suits" is the prcnisr upon when tae
Whole article is Iun,. continuing, the
article IL, in ri.., IS iolio"S:- lie
tim, has c,.,t.c u..-.. pdDnc opinion
demaIuS that lil!o waste cease. LIE
drain upon the greatest asset Oh the
State. the human beings inhabItatlng
it, has attaired such proportions that
the inauguration of broad conserva-
ton policy has become imperative.
We can i.o longer afford to permit this
matter to govern ITSELF for lack OF
regulation has bred license and in
difference to the right of others winch
menaces po3tcllty.
"Manv of Names sister states are
ia. ahead OF her in regulating the use
Of dangerous machinery, the protec-
ticn al W orl>men engaged in hazardous
callinys and the surroundings OF I'M
beautiful Industries as regards sanl-
tation and ventilation. Some OF the
laws of other states nave been ef1lca-
:iouS, others useless teither because Of
nun-entcrcement or their structure)
and st!ll Others positively harmful, in
that they are called laws for the pro-
lection of the workingmen. when in
reality they are Il sop, written into
The statutes to stop agitation, but 50
adroitly drawn that they leave the
n ;inutacturer and careless workman
fire, to wantonly endanger their own
lives and the lives OF others.
"Accdents in Maine Industries are
destroying the worl,ingmcn, the bone
and sinew, the solid foundation on
Which all prosperity rests, CT. what
is infinitely worse. is SO manning and
Disabling Il great army of these earn
ing units that their capacity for pro-
ducing wealth for their employers and
income for themselves is apprcciably
depleted income have a tendency to
increase rather than remain station
airy. Something must be done i'm the
lnme date future to amcliUrate this
condition. steps must be taken to
better protect these Workingmen from
'ccident and PROV ision must also be
made t. 50 distribute the funds, now
spent by employers i'm protecting
themselves from damage suits and
Vtrilcts. that Il much larger propor-
ton shall reach the injured Individual
and his family and at the time when
the neeG is greatest
Names greatest need at this time
sec IN" to be laws providing that every
dangerous machine be equipped with
proper guards and that these guards
ne used at all times. No EMPLOYER
shoul1 be permitted to offer Working
'1en employment on. nor any emDloye
y irE'ttcd 70 operate an unguarded
dangerous machine. even for a short
period Of time Nothing is gained in
providing guards for the use of oper
atiVeS and permitting them to be re-
mo:cc turing a~time when it is nee
"sSary t. hurry the work, for il is
when a workman is hurrying that the
greatest danger of accident Obtains
statistics containing a record uf
every a""t"ent Occurring under pres
'ht Gay conditions are very much to