Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-07
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from Page Five.)

|
tration. and unless, pending such sub
mission both parties to the controversy
shall use all reasonable endeavors to ena
BILE said railroad to fully resume its traf
fic. said railroad and said employees
through the labor organizations repre-
senting them, shall be summoned to ap
pear before said committee forthwith
and in case said parties are then unwill
ing to submit their controversies to arbi
tration and endeavor to resume traffic
as aforesaid, said committee shall pro
coed forthwith to investigate the causes
of such suspension of traffic and the mer
its of said controversy, and report to thu
Legislature by bill or otherwise on or be
fore February 10th, 1918. Said committee
is hereby authorized to employ counse
and experts, compel the attendance OF
persons and the production of books and
papers which it deems necessary.
Mr.. SCATES of Westbrook: Mr.. Speak
er. ] wish to say Just word in regard to
this order Last Tuesday / had such an
order as that prepared, and was request
ed to present it by people from Aroostools
county; but | heard read a bill which |
thought covered the same matter, and
. i
| the order. l have examined the bill since
that time a copy of which ] think you
will find in your records as House Docu-
ment No. 1872, and will Just read a part
of IL
| when by reason of disputes, strikes
! or loek-outs between employers and em-
ployes of any public utility a cessation
of the work. or a suspension of the sup
ply of any of the necessary public SER
vice for which such public utility is in
tended to furnish, is occasioned thereby
/ to any section of the State, depending
upon such utility, the commission'-the
commission, And il goes along and pro-
vides that either the employer the en-
ployee or the public may petition the
commission, the commission may inves-
tigate and it may report to the Governor
and Council. The Governor may then or
der the employees to go to work. The
commission may do this
Now, | have examined the Act pretty
thoroughly, and I fail to find anywhere
such a commission, or referring to any
such commission already created. I ap-
prehend, however, that that may have
been left out by mistake. What the COM
mission may be. l don't know Judging
from the wording of the Act. l apprehend
that it may refer to public utilities COM
| mission, which may be created by this
Legislature. or may not But / will as
sumo that it was through an error. 1t
seems to me as though a matter as i'm
portant as this. and dealing with such an
important matter as this, should be more
carefully drawn.
notice further along in the copy of
the bin it says:
"Wilful refusal by any employee. after
notice received by him from the Governor
as provided. to return to and continue in
his position as workman in said public
utilities shall be a misdemeanor.
Now wish to say that have consult
| ed able lawyers upon this matter and
they say that section cannot be enforced.
| think my friend from Presque Isle fMr
Smith Will agree with me upon that
| proposition; and as a result. so far as d
layman can observe that act might he
enacted in the most solemn manner, it
| might be signed by the Executive. it
| might have affixed to il the great red
seal of the State with beautiful blue rib
hon attached to it. and ii would not be
worth the cost of the ink on the Gov
ernors pen.
| I wish 10 call the attention of the
House To some kilograms that I have
received from people in Aroostook
county, showing the condition as these
people see il existing in Aroostoolz
county, and from the newspaper re-
ports the condition in Piscataquis
eo1nty are fully as serious as they are
in Aroostook county. Many of these
people / do not know, but have ask
ed about them from some of the rep
resentatives from Aroostook county
and they say these men are among the
most important business men and
firms in Aroostook county,
| Here is a telegram which have re-
ceived signed by certain firm at Mars
| Hill: Help ont Aroostook perilous
conditions: force Immediately passage
of emergency bill compulsory arbitra-
ton OF all disputes between public
service corporation and employees;
strike already caused untold loss; il
continued means ruin"
] have another from Limestone, as
follows: Alarming transportation con-
ditions in Aroostook Immediately urge
passage of an emergency bill for COM
| pulsory arbitration OF corporate Ia,
Dor dispute with an Imprisonment
clause for either side for refusing to
arbitrate; if present railroad condi-
tons continue it will be ruinous to u.s."
This telegram is signed by II firms
from Limestone.
l have another telegram from East
on. as follows; Force a change in the
alarming transportation conditions in
Aroostook by Immediately urging the
passage of emergency bill for arbitra-
ton of all disputes between all cor
porations and employees; penalty fine
for agitators; Imprisonment imposed
for leaders Of either side if arbitration
is refused; strike has already caused
us untold loss, and if continued will
ruin us
] have another telegram from Fort
FAIRFIELD, stating as follows: "Compul-
sorry arbitration all disputes between
public service corporations and en-
ployes penalty fine for corporation:
Imprisonment for leaders on either side
If arDitra ton rpfllccd. IN holm Aroos-