Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-05

| time of this House in discussing this
| matter, which is entitled the work.
| mems compensation act. We had a.
| subcommittee this winter which draft
ed this act. and they have worked on
+ ii fer almost the entire season, and
| they brought it into the House. SUBJ
| sequently in committee of the whole Il
| provision was added 10 it cutting down
the number of men from ten to five:
and they did not receive the amend
ment offered which was offered for the
purpose of eliminating the lumbermen
and river drivers. Now they come in
here and ask for a committee of con-
! terence. Gentlemen, do you think this
is fair proposition at this late day?
1t strikes ME it is not; and hope that
the motion of the gentleman from Car
lbou, Mr.. Irving, will not prevail. On
inns question, Mr.. Speaker, 1 ask that
the yeas and nays be ordered.
Mr.. IRVING of Caribou. MIR. Speak
er, think there are a few of the menu
befs of this House who do not under
stano my attitude towards this ques-
| tion. Believing the principal to be
right, | was as much in favor of the
passage of a bill that would meet the
/
islature as any other man; but 1 was
confronted by the almost certainty of
the bill, as 1t now stands, working a.
great hardship on the sub contractors
in the woods and on the drives; and
| therefore presented an amendment to
exempt them from the provisions of
the bill, which amendment was re-
jected.
l submit that the Judgment of no
\ man is absolutely perfect; and I be-
lieve that it might be possible at this
time, considering the temper of the
proponents and opponents of this billr
that some common ground may be.
reached by committee of conference
upon which the bill may be amended
so that it I'LL meet with the approval
ct all concerned; and / therefore. as a,
courtesy, and frankly in the interest
of the passage of; some form of bin
lif possible, made this motion.
Il Mr.. ROLFE Of Portland: Mr.. Speak-
/ er, at the present time / feel it to be
my duty to state to the Legislature, or
TO the members of this House, my POI
sition upOR this matter. am not OPP
posed. and would not oppose a bill if it
| erspf6Dented in the proper form in
order thai each and all of us might he,
properly protected; but do claim that
| the present bill is unjust to the small
| manufacturer and the small lumber
man at the present time. / do not feel
at this late day that bill which would
be satisfactory to all of us could be
reasonably affected. 1 believe that if It,
bill were to be presented somewhat in
the form which has been heretofore
suggested, To the effect that the en-
ployee might assume ene-third of the
responsibility and the employee might
one-third and the State the other third.
it might be satisfactory to all But as
fer referring this matter now TO conf
Elittee of conference, / must strenuous
is object. and / hope that the motion
Of the gentleman from Caribou (Mr.
IRVING Will not prevail.
Mr. WHEELER of Paris: Mr.
Speaker, / feel that / want to express
my sympathy to this bill when / say
that all reasonable men may not be
allie to take the same ground upon
II is BILL but certainly all reasonable
men and all men ougE. to be able AMI
willing to met each other in confer
enee, because il is possible that a COM
premise measure out of all these bills
may be brought forth durin.. the last
| days of this Legislature. 1t certainly IS
rot too late, even at this time. to do
justice by the working men and the
working people of this State who have
a right to expect and do expect from
all PARTIES in this State in their piatA
forms that legislation along this line
will be enacted. So that this motion OF
the gentleman from Caribou CHR. Irv-
ing) presents to the House the precise
question which | was seeking 10 pre-
sent to the House, yesterday, When
this House was so unwilling to adj
journ. / believe if we can have lit
tie time to meet each other along the
line of come proposed amendments
| which were spoken of, yesterday, that
we can arrive at some fair conclusion,
something that will be fair to the
working men of the State and fair also
to the employers both large and small
ones: and l hope this motion will pre-
! vail.
Mr. COOK of Vassalboro: Mr.. Speak
er, as you all know, the Socialist vote
has been increasing in this country for
the last few years in geometrical ratio
| When a bill like this comes up which
$4,000 Iaborers are looking anxiously
! for il is we'll to take heed and not by
any snap judgment destroy It. There
is at this time great unrest, and If you
4 don't give way
At this point the Senate came IN anu
a joint convention was formed.
VT n Ae -