Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28
HEARING ON STATE PRINT
ING SANITARY CONDITIONS.

Thursday afternoon IN the commit
tee of labor and industry room there
was continuation 81 the hearing
on the Act 10 define the sanitary and
laber conditions. under which the
State printing shall he performed.
y spirit of friendliness between pub
fishers and printers prevailed and the
Union printers had no grievances. as
they admitted, against their employ
ers.
The chief objections TO the bill ap-
peared to be that the publishers of
Maine objected 10 being selected by
the State for the imposition of Union
labor conditions and to dictation as
to the manner in which their business
should be transacted: also because
they believed the law was uneonsti-
tutional, uncalled for as there are
no grievances existing and because
such bill carried danger of serious
trouble in the future.
Hon. Thomas Leigh appeared in be-
half of the publishers and Hon.
Thomas Lyons for the proponents of
the Act
Among publishers present were c.
F. Flynt, Kennebec Journal. Walter
3. Reed, Bangor News NJ. r. Harri-
gan, Bangor Commercial and w. II.
Davis of the Maine Farmer
Mr.. Thompson for the proponents
of the bill said that the Act did not
prevent the smaller papers of Maine
distributing the laws as they had been
in the habit of doing, purchasing
them Of the larger offices. as the Act
said nothing about distribution of
these laws AS To the objection raised
that there would be different wage
scales in the future, there were diff
ferent wage scales at the present time
in various cities OF the State. He
claimed that it would improve con-
ditions of non-union labor as we'll as
Union conditions and would result in
benefit 10 the State.
Nh. Leigh explained that the pub
fishers of Maine are not opposed to
the betterment of labor They want
ed to see this brought about. Bet
ter conditions made better men. No
worker either With his head or his
hands got too many of the good
things Of life They deserved all they
got. There is no grievance to be adj
justed between publishers and their
employees. Both are satisfied under
present conditions of sanitary affairs
hours of work, and the wages they re-
celVe. But they believe that this hill
is serious proposition, has not been
advertised and carefully considered
by the publishers of the State. 1t is
unusual legislation. So far as he
| fhpr0 lgv Nv, y,
nation. There is a question as to its
being Constitutional and it is a bill
brought late in the session when i
cannot be So carefully considered a!
the serious nature Of the Act woul,
seem to demand. 1t is a serious mat
| ter to legislate for one set of mer
against all others in the State. If yot
| incorporate this bill into the laws o
Maine, every office that does print
| ing for the State must conform t,
| the rules and regulations of the Type
| graphical Union of the State. Wheth
! er such a law would be operative i
J a question but one thing is sure it i
n onesided law and would result il
serious tangleS. 1t discriminates il
behalf of very few citizens and on
/ set of offices against those of a diff
! ferent kind. The present trend @
labor affairs is not adjust them b
making legislative laws but by mu
tual gettine Together. talking thin"
over and thus coming to amicabl
conclusions without going to courl
of law. With such a bill made tn
law, any firm or Office obtaining
State contract would be one undG
Typographical rules. Other offic,
and non union printers would be III
able to secure any State work. Wit
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