Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-22

them stone. ] have here list Of
the states which already have a law
of this kind on the statute books and
4 II comprises a great many OF them.
| have not all the bills here from the
various states. but this bill as amended
Will be practically and in effect think
| wora for word the same as the bill in
| kanscs which provides that they
| shall provide chairs" not permit the
use Of. The statute in Minnesota says
shall provide and maintain suitable
seats in the room where they work
The law in the District of Columbia
| says lit shall be required to provide
proper and suitable Seats In Della
ware ii says shah provide suitable
| seats" All of these states. d list Of
| which have here make this require
| n.ent the same as this hill did origi-
nally ard as it viii If amended.
| don't think there is anything fur
| thor % say. might call attention to
this fact IT is of course well known to
| oil tho members Of this Legislature
that women at times, and some oe
| them an the tine, have troubles to
/ whics, the male portion OF mankind
are not liable, and that the use of seats
I W 'f'It OppOt tuiIitS IL given W cit 1oE II
is bavond question Of advantage to the
| health Of the women: and with these
| few remarks have no more to say ~
| present.
/ Mr. OTIS of Rockland: Mr. Speaker.
as 2 member OF the committee which
l reported this bill In the now draft
wish 10 heartily second and endorse
the proposition to amend it and restore
Il to its original condition. and in the
| meantime I wish to explain how the
bill happens to be changed to its pres :
| ent form. The bill as originally intro-
| GG3ed b. the gentleman from Lisbon
was given a hearing and there were q
| large number Of gentlemen who APP
| paAre1 representing the various indus
| tries throughout the State. many Of
| WHOM represented industries to which
| this bill might to some extent apply,
| and for more than an hour a drsaltcry
| discussion went on in which many OF
| them appeared to feel that the bill
| would be inimieal to their interests.
| Finally one gentleman happened to
| state what would be his view Of the
| effect of the bill When called his at
| tention to the fact that there was
/ nothing in the bill such as he had
mentioned. il then TRANSFERRED that he
| Lad not read the bill al all and had
I not seen it and did not know what It
! was: and I found that most Of til
| gentlemen who had spoken on the bill
| IN opposition to it ut that time did Tot
| really know what the bill was. l then
| called TIE attention OF one gentleman.
who was quite prominent in manufdu-
| turing industries and who had mills
| to which this bill would apply. anG T
| asked Linn to read the bill He read II
| through several times very carefully.
and at the close he said to the com
! n,ittee that he found nothing what
] ever that was Objectionable iii tic bill:
| md, as | understood, all the gentle
| lncn who wore present agreed to that
! rs soon as they knew what the bill
| was and saw how reasonable and how
| ur Objectionable ii was they witt
| drew their opposition to the bill and il
i went to the committee without any OPP
| position. Tit amendment was made in
| execiltivc session. and presume il
| viii not he proper for me to allude to
what occurred there; but may say
| this, that it was not large represen-
! tltien of the committee. I think il I
| remember right there were only five
or possibly six. members of the com
lnittee there when that vote was TAX
| en-. DO net think it was fairly consid-
| cred in executive session when tine
| change was made. l do not think the
members realized what would be the
effect OF it. that it would be to destroy
the real purpose OF the bill.
The distinction has been very plain
l lx- rrinfp1 ~ nv
Lisbon. The bill as it originally was
land as it will stand if this amendment
| is adopted. requires employers in GER
tain eases to furnish seats for women
when they are not actively employed
i'll their duties. 1t does not require
| The mills or the stores to give them
time to sit down but merely requires
| hat il they do have an opportunity to
| rest they may be permitted to sit down
| and they should have seats provided
| SO they can do So and not make them
tStand around like statues as many
| girl clerks in the department stores
| are obliged TO do when waiting for
| customers: and. Mr., Speaker. it seems
Ito me that this bill. in the form pro
| posed by th. gentleman from Lisbon.
comments itself to the good sens of
| this House. as l believe it would to
that vi the committee if they had
| tairly considered it.
| The question being on the adoption
Iuf the amendment
| The amendment was adopted.
| The bill then received its two read
Iings and was assigned for tomorrow
| morning
| ON motion Of Mr.. Pattangall of Wa
| tervilr. Housc Bill. No. II. An Act in
| relat ton to the tsefaSt and Liberty
Railway Company. WAS taken from tn"
J table
Mr. PATTA NGALL Mr.. Speaker.
| | have conferred with IL portion of the
railroad committee since tabling that
bill and they thought there Were some
matters contained in it which should
he stricken out. At the suggestion Of
the committee | move to rccunmit the
bill in order that the. committee may
make such changes they deem
necessary.
The motion was agreed to.
on motion of Mr.. Connors of Ban
cor.
|