Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-05


state Commerce Commission is grad
ually regulat ting the freight cars of
railroads and has already enforced
certain requirements as TO safety II
had not yet barred the short eaboose,
but might do so later
In his argument Mr.. Pattangall
stated that the proponents of the bill
were willing to make the length of the
caboose % feet and the capacity 25
to 50 tons. Other changes in the bill
would also be agreed to 50 that the
whole question Was reduced To the
changing Of "a Maina Central ears at
a cost of about s5o,e09. He did not
consider this a drastic demand and
knew that the railroad men did not
want anything drastic.
Hours of Employment.
The act regulating the hours of en-
ployment and relating to conductors
and motormen brought the heaviest
guns of the electric railway interests
in Maine.
Senator Flaherty of Portland said
that ne kad introduced the bill at the
behest of the carmen in Portland and.
While the men had been afraid of los
ing their positions if they signed petit
tons, he had been asked by many to do
all in his power to put such bin
through. He brought petitions from cit
liens and the Central Labor Unions of
Augusta, BIddeford and Saco Lewis
ton and Auburn and many other sec
tious of the State. He regarded ii as
making for the safety of the public as
it would prevent mans working when
tired or otherwise incapacitated
Frank l. Haskell, Portland attor-
uey, stated that he had been retained
by the contributions oil the street car
men to plead their case before the com
nlittee. He submitted a new draft of
Sections l and as he was afraid OF
their constitutionality
John McGreer Of Bangor, who said
he Lad been employed by the Electric
Car Co. in Bangor for more than 20
years and discharged because he be-
came prominent in organizing the men.
told some of the alleged insides of rail-
road management.
Rep. Rolfe of Portland spoke against
the long hours now In force. William
Bradley of Portland. representing the
Portland Railroad Co., declared the
company was working for the public
and oblige to have their men working
when needed by the public, thus neces-
stating long periods before work
could be finished to make up a full day,
General Manager Ivers of Portland,
Lewiston and connecting lines, said he
could not believe many men had de-
sired such a law. He wished to contra
dict the statement that men had been
commanded TO wash cars after finish
ing their days work.
The committee on public health, Tues
day afternoon, heard those in favor OF a
bill to provide for the care and treat
ment of tubercular patients. The bill
calls for the appropriation of 100000 for
the erection of State sanatorium.
Kingsbury b. Piper of Watervile SPOKE
in behalf of the proponents, saying mat
there were hundreds in the state OF
Maine suffering from tuberculosis who
are not able to pay the prices charged
by the sanatoriums now conducted In
this State and which receive State aid
Others who spoke in favor of the bill
were DR.. John A. Donovan of Lewiston
L. w Coons of Augusta, DIR. Wallace n.
Price of Richmond and II. II. Sawyer oil
Portland.
The only opposition to the bill was or
the part of DR.. a. A. Downs of Fairfield
secretary of the Maine Anti-Tuberculo
sis Association, who claimed that the
State of Maine would be better served
by a system of small sanatoriums thai
by one large central sanatorium.
Other Bills.
| There was no opposition to the bill reg
ulating hatpins and other decorative util
tiles. Rep. Sherman spoke in favor o.
the BILL telling of the many ways thu
hatpin is menace TO the public.
j. Frank Chase secretary of the New
England Watch and Ward Society, ap
peared in favor of the bill regulating thu
sale of morphine and other hypnotic ant
narcotic drugs. The only opposition wa'
to one section of the bill in regard TO it