Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-26

mills. These men nave commence III
me, and whether Republicans or DEM
ocrats, they would make it manifest if
they We're interested in this legisla-
ton. l believe it is wrong to have this
legislation in regard to the hours of
work. We all know that a change in
the tariff is before us, and the en-
ployer must meet that situation, and
to put this added cost on the manufac-
turers would certainly burden them so
that it is almost sure they would have
to reduce the hours of work or close
their mills if this is passed.
l believe we will do for the employees
just what they want us to do if we
vote to sustain the majority report.
Mr.. HERSEY of Aroostook Mr..
President l come from a section of
the State where we are not so much
affected by the manufacturing interests
as in the central portion of the State,
but I do know the feelings of the la
Dor unions in the State of Maine. They
did come to this Legislature for "a
hour law of nine hours a day. They
stood for that before the committee
through their representatives. In the
House there was quite a full discus
sion of this matter, and there was a
compromise measure passed in the
House. They have now IS hours. The
compromise measure after full discus
sion went through the House for Sc
hours, q lessening of two hours. The
labor interests did not get what they
asked for, 81 hours.
In the adjoining state of Massachu-
sets, they work, today. "a hours in the
factories, and Massachusetts is a man.
ufacturing state much more than
Maine.
great political party has. this past
week, made public proclamation in
Massachusetts,. in large convention,
that they stood for eight hours a day
in Massachusetts, and pledged them
selves to make il law.
The time is coming, even in Maine.
Mr.. President, when the women and
children in our factories will not work
more than eight hours a day They
ask now for Sc hours, not for eight.
not even for nine hours
1t seems to me that when the laber
interests come to this Legislature and
ask for this small amount of bread.
we ought not here to refuse that little
amount and in place of what they ask.
refuse them this compromise measure
and give them stone. I think this
Senate ought to agree with the House
for Sc hours.
l have thought that if We refuse
them, it may breed discomfort in our
State between labor and capital. ii
may be a great injury to our State.
ana re ought at this present time to
pass this compromise measure, both in
the interest of labor and of capital
Mr. Flaherty of Cumberland. Mr..
President, | wish merely to say a few
words in regard to this measure pend
ing before the Senate, this morning.
| agree generally with what the SEN
aror from Aroostook has just said, and
must disagree with the senator from
Penobscot when he states here before
the Senate that labor in The State Of
halne is not interested in this bill A.
all. And he states also that they did
not SHOW any interest at the hearing
VIII say to the senators here that
mere We're quite few before the com
ihhtee, ana OF course it would b. i'm
possible for all the women and chill
oren of Saine interested In This hill ta
come here to the Legislature because
Il would make big expense for them.
Inc only way they can express their
opinions is by electine a comnitfee 10
come here, and they did. and a fuIl
nearing was granted. They came here
ana asked for 54-hour law, but were
Wiling to compromise with what the
iiousc has given them already. n 5s-
hour law.
really believe the mill owners and
Dig corporations would get a great deal
more work out of the women and chill
dren working 81 hours instead of 5S
FOR example, many married women
are working in the mills who have
.iieif houseWork to attend to before
lney so to work in the morning and
AFTER work at night, and | really think
IL is working an injustice to them IT
may not come at this session. al
though it really ought to. but this
measure will go through, sooner or
later, and trust the Senate. this
morning VIII agree with the House
in the 56-hour bill.
Mr.. MAXWELL of Sagadahoc: Mr..
President, l live in town where man
ufactiiring is done to quite an extent
knowing that this matter was coming
up | have taken some pains to inter
view the people who work in our mills
as TO their position on this matter. Now
they state to me very frankly that they
very much prefer the law of IS hours
win 81 hours pay, rather than a 5e-
heur law with a chance of a reduction
In their pay, which they feel will sure
Il come
AS has been said, in Massachusetts
they have a 54-hour lawI want to add
that this is not all they have had since
they have had the law. In my section
as ! said, they are very much in ia :
Vor-all the cotton mill people the
Eeip-of the law remaining as it is.
ard because of that | shall vote for the
3d. hour law
Mr.. MOREY of Androscoggin: Mr..
PRESIDENT, just word in relation to
this matter. Lewiston. 1t is we'll
known, is large manufacturing CITY.
and the immediate prospects for its
future in point of population are re-
markable. | suppose we will easily
increase ten thousand in population in
the next few years. The labor unions