The Republican journal., 1911-03-09
WEEKLY WAGE PAYMENTS.

The principal debate in the House
Wednesday forenoon, March LIST. was
upon the bill FOR the weekly payment of
wages. An amendment to the bill was
presented by Mr.. Clearwater of Halo
well Immediately after the acceptance OF
the favorable report from the committee
on labor. Mr.. -Clearwater's amend ment
inserted the; word "willfully" in connec-
ton with the section providing penalty
for the violation of the law.
Representative Doyle of Millinocket,
of the committee on labor, spoke with
some feeling in favor of allowing the re-
port of the committee to stand as it was
without any amendment to the bill. He
did not question Mr.. Clearwater's good
faith, but believed if his amendment was
adopted it would make joke of the bill.
He said that no matter how unanimously
the committee on labor had reported
there seemed to be disposition on the
part of the legislature to change it.
This measure has been reported unani-
mously by the committee on labor and
believe that it ought to have a passage. Z
exclaimed Mr.. Doyle amid applause.
Representative Clearwater of Halo
we'll said that he believed in the weekly
payment of wages. He was an en-
ployee of labor in a small way and had
always paid his help weekly. There was
no joker in the amendment he proposed,
no "nigger in the woodpile.' He simply
introduced the amendment in order to
provide for certain conditions that might
occur. He pointed out that it would be a
hardship for the granite companies in
Vinalhaven if in storm communication
was shut off on account of ice with Rock
land, so that they could not get money
from that city, which was their banking
center.
Representative Otis of Rockland did
not think there was any necessity for
the amendment. Representative Bow
man of Vinalhaven replied to Mr.. Clear
water by saying that there was branch
bank in, Vinalhaven so that the condition
that he pictured there could not exist.
Representative ,Hersey of Houlton said
the legislature should enact bill that
meant something, if it enacted any. A
young lawyer that could not successfully
defend corporation is charged with vlo-
lation of the law if the proposed amend
mert was inserted was not much of a
lawyer.
Mr.. Williamson of Augusta believed
that the addition of the word "willfully"
would weaken the bill If corporation
or firm could pay once in two weeks they
they could pay every week. He under
stood that bill similar to this had be en-
passed by the Massachusetts, Legislature
and that it had been declared to be con-
stitutional.
Representative Shehan of Augusta
said that the committee had put in a
lot of time on this measure and he hoped
it would be passed as reported.
Mr.. Morse of Belfast favored the pro-
posed amendment. He said that the
Mount Waldo Granite Co. employs 300
men, and that if the company for any
reason could not meet a weekly pay roll
it would subject the company to fine of
from So, 900 to SIS, 900. He thought that
in the interests of justice the amendment
ought to be adopted.
Mr. Chase of York favored the amend
ment. He asked why, if the amendment
does not mean anything, objection should
be made to it. He said that he employs
labor and intends to pay his employees
each week;if for any reason he could not
do so he did not want to take the chance
of paying fine.
Representative Pattangall of Water
vile said that under the present law
fortnightly payments are provided for,
and that the fine for not complying isnot
less than $40 or more than S25. This
law has been in operation for q years
and there has been no complaint that it
has worked hardship to any one He
believed that the bill should be passed as
reported by the committee.
Representative Harmon of Stonington
favored the amendment
On motion of Mr.. Descteaux yea and
nay vote was taken on the amendment,
which was defeated by vote of 1OS to
%.
The original bill was then given two
readings.