Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-20
Special Assignment.

| ny itDOil Is Vi lllt AOIflilliiltt On
TO which was referred bill, an Act to
amend Chapter 40 of the Revised Sta
tutes, as amended by Chapter 46 of
the Public Laws of 1907 and Chapters
20 and 257 of the Public Laws of 1909
relative 10 the Employment of Wom-
en- and Children, majority reporting
ought not TO pass. minority report
| ing Ought to pass in new draft 8"
| Mr. MITCHELL of Newport: Mr..
| Speaker, / move that the majority re-
| port of the committee be adopted
| The SPEAKER: The Chair will
| state that that motion was made on
| the presentation of the reports by the
| gentleman from Island Falls, Mr..
| Emerson, and this matter now coming
| off of the table by special assignment.
the question is upon the adoption of
| the motion of the gentleman from
Island Falls, Mr. Emerson, that the
ma joritv report of the committee be
| accepted
Mr.. MITCHELL of Newport Mr..
| Speaker, | second the motion of the
| gentleman from Island Falls. Mr..
| Emerson.
| The SPEAKER: The question be-
| fore The House is on the adoption of
the majority report of this committee.
reporting ought not to pass
| Mr.. NEWBERT of Augusta Mr..
| Speaker, on the 18th of this month
| this matter was tabled on motion by
| the gentleman from Biddeford, Mr.
| Descoteaux, and at mis- request. this
| morning, | simply rise to explain the
| situation for him. There are two re-
| ports from the committee on labor.
| one report signed by seven members
| OF the committee. reporting against
| the 54-hour law. the other report
( signed by five members of the COM
mittee reporting ought to pass" in
a new draft. proposing Sc hours in
| place of "a hours
| | believe it is the desire of the ma
iority of this House TO have a chance
| To vote, today upon this compromise
| measure. namely. the bill in new draft.
| providing for Sc hours. / have not
been in consultation with those who
| have conferred upon il, but | UNDER
| stand from them that the situation
| now is this. that the motion of the
| gentleman from Island Falls fMr.
| Emersom to accept the report of the
majority of the committee, ought not
10 pass" on the "a hour proposition
| is before the House, and it is now
| too late to substitute one report for
| the other, and ii is no stage to be
amended.
Now. if we must proceed along this
/ line. and unless the gentleman from
| Island Fails (Mr. Emerson) will with
| draw his motion--if We must pro-
-ceed along this line, l want to make
Il fn.r alz
| friends of labor in this House who
| desire to enact this 56-hour bill into
law will be obliged to vote this morn
| inc against the motion of the gentle
| man from Island Falls. and tempo
| rarily. at least. go on record as favor
| ing the 54-hour bill The only de-
sire of labor now is that the compro-
| mise should be adopted, and IS hours
be substituted for 81 hours. | think
| the Chair will help the House-and
| there is no doubt about that, because
| there is a sincere desire on the part
| OF many members here to have this
| thing so put that there can be no
| misunderstanding about it. If | I'M
| derstand the situation now, it is this 2:
| If the motion of the gentleman from
| Island Falls (Mr. Emerson) prevails.
| the whole question leaves the House.
| and the House will have no chance
| to vote upon the 56-hour bill If |
| am not right in this, | hope the Chair
| will set me right because | am trying
| 10 be right If the Chair will kindly
| inform me in simple parliamentary
! inquiry. | will put it like this. To help
| the House out in this matter. If the
! House should vote down the motion
| of the gentleman from Island Falls
| CMr Emerson) would it then be in
| order, Mr.. Speaker. to move the ac-
i centance of the other report?
| The SPEAKER: The Chair rules that
| the question now before the House.
| being the adoption of the motion to
accept the ma jority report, ought not
| to pass that if that vote is carried
| further consideration of this subject
] ceases necessarily, and no motion is
/ in order TO substitute the report of any
| other branch or part of the committee
| Tor this one, The Chair further rules
+, ir answer to the inquiry, that if tha
vote on this motion fails of a passage
then it will DE in order for any mem
Der TO move to adopt some other re-
port of this committee on this same
| subject
| Mr.. NEWRERT: / thank YOU Mr.
| Speaker. / think that clears up the sit
| uation. and puts us just where we
ought to be. Now, if we are obliged ia
vote on the motion of the gentleman
| from Island Falls, (Mr Emersom the
| friends OF the 56-hour bill must vote
| down his motion. ! am not so sure
| but what the gentleman will withdraw
| his motion and allow us to substitute.
| If 1t would be in order, the minority
| FOR the majority report; and | should
say in doing that it will save the House
| a roll call. The friends Of labor want
| a year and nay vote even on this mo-
| ton, and ii the motion is withdraw
| | think it will save considerable time.
/ Mr.. MITCHELL of Newport: Mr..
/, Speaker ! want to make little expla-
nation to the gentlemen of this House
| The committee on labor had Il hear
ing on this matter and at that time
| the subject was pretty well threshed
ont. 1t was the decision of the ma ior-
ity of the committee that at this time
| the State of Maine could not afford TO
enact 54-hour law, with the certain
ty of lowering of the duties in the