Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-03

the gentleman from South Portland mi
Sanborn) tells us that at the time of tn
hearing there was no opposition TO thi
bill, and | think he is correct about it
but / am told and credibly informed tina
there Were a large number of hotel mel
present at the hearing who were opposed
to this bill; and the reason they wer,
not heard was because they did not wan
TO antagonize the travelling men who
We're present there and working for tn,
bill That has come to me straight, anC
perhaps that was a reason why they
kept what was thought to be at that time
a discreet silence. AS matter of fact
a great many of the small hotels In this
state are opposed to this measure.
! don't know how the originator of this
act arrived at the precise length oil
sheets and towels. | suppose they stood
up some one of the tallest travelling men
and measured out a sheet that would fl
him and then called that the right
length, and so in regard to the towels
and knowing a great many travelling men
as | do, ard knowing the cheek that
they possess. ! should say that they re-
duire a larger towel than the ordinary
man.
-''i' ~ DIN - T. vi ABlbJ bt5tIt. MI .
Speaker, know of y city not a great
many miles from here in which are
located four large hotels. and the pro-
pr1etors OF those hotels are all OPP
, posed TO this bill.
Nh. NEWBERT of Augusta: MI.
Speaker, l appreciate the compliment
NJ my friend from Kittery CIR. Mitch.
el). Personally | am very glad that my
friend retained his seat in this House
We should have lost much had we lost
his genial presence, and my only re-
eret is that he could not get his post
Office back.
Mr.. MITCHELL of Kittcry Mr.
SPEC ker, | will say that | do not know
hut what ! should have got it back
IL 4 gentleman of the House had not
published a letter.
Mr. KEH0E of Portland: Mr.. Speak
er just one word | have sat here and
listened to this discussion, and ( have
heard the bill explained section by sec
ton; I rave Heard the gentleman From
kittery tMr AlitchelD appear! against
The dill but | have not heard MIN offer
my objection 10 any part of it. I have
not heard anybody opposed to the bill
discuss the bin in any particular and
Iioint out any Objectionable features to
it, We have committees in this House,
and it is their business to attend to
the real business of the House. What
encouragement is it for any committee,
afte1 considering a matter of this i'm
rortance, to have the matter remodel
led aHd re-drafted and Il bill brought
III Of this importance before the Hous,
and then have members in their seats
who have not heard the evidence be-
port Of the committee We are adver-
Using Maine as the great playground
of the nation, and VIC are the play
ground OF tie nation. We expect t.
cater 10 people from outside of the
State, and the class of people who
CONF here are the best class in the
country. and we should see that they
are served under the very best circum-
stances. | think this is 1 matter which
should be decided fairly. and / think
we should stand by the committee who
considered the matter; 1 think this is
ih q line Of progress, and / hope that
tie bill viii pass.
I Mr.. 0iG0NNELL of Milford Mir
Speaker. the hotel is tile home of the
travelling man, and it is the only home
4 great many Of the travelling men
have. This bill is aimed at the hotel
ar at the proprietor whose sheets are
half an inch short. 1t is immaterial
whether they stood a man up against
the wall and measured the sheets. or
how they measured them. This is aim
I'd at the man who does not want 10
run Il first class hotel and still who is
Willing to charge YOU first class price.
TIE hotel industry of Maine is q
great industry. and | tell you that it is
the only industry Of such gigantic pro-
portions that has not got some kind Of
4 commission over it: and | will say
that 1t will not strike my friend from
kittery (Mr. MitcheID or any man
who is willing to run Il first class ho-
tel, but it will hit those people in the
small towns where they have only one
hotel. and You have got 10 take what
they give you.
Mr.. DUNTON of Belfast: Mr.
Speaker, the discussion has proceeded
thus far in relation to hotels that are
patronzed by the travelling public
There is a class of hotels and lodg-
ing houses that have not in the dis
cusSion received any consideration at
all, the cheap lodging houses and
cheap hotels which we find in all of
our cities for the people who want
cheap lodging houses and cheap board,
I wonder how this bill is going to
affect them. | have looked the bill
oyer, and find that there is an un-
certainty in my mind as to what the
effect will be on the class of houses
fdenominated in this bin as inns and
lodging houses. ~,
Mr., AUSTIN, Mr., Speaker, l will
say to the gentleman. FROM Belfast
cMr. Dunton) that even in the case OF
what he described as the cheap lodg
ing house, l don't think the cleanli
ness and sanitary conditions are in
compatible with cheapness; | don't
think because a hotel is cleanly, and
the beds must be kept clean and the
conditions must be kept sanitary
therein necessarily means that high
price must be charged for the accom-
mediation. 1t would seem to me that
if we can by any such legislation as
this-I don't know that we can, but I
think it is worth trying-my opinion
has been that if we can by any such