Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-27


years. And any member of said com
mission for wilful neglect of duty or
for malfeasance in Office may after
notice and hearing be removed from
Office by the Governor and Council
In case of a Vacanc& occurring through
death, resignation or removal the
Governor shall with the advice and
consent of the Council appoint n Sue
Cessor for the term of three years sub
ject to removal as aforesaid Such
chairman shall receive a salary of
$500 per year and the other members
Of the Commission shall receive 4
salary of Sla09 per year. The men,
bars of said Commission shall also re-
CciVc their travelling expenses actually
ana necessarily incurred in the per-
f.rmance of their duties.
Mr.. WING of Franklin Mi. Chair
man, | VIII be as brief as possible. II
seems to me that this is Il very impor-
tant matter. The bin before rs under
takes to place a verN-heavy burden upon
the employers Of htbor in this STATE,
and it's provisions are Of such nat ur"
that $1,000 may haze te be paid by cm.
ploycrs for some Of the workmen that
the employer is not in any way respon-
sible for.
New if an accident happens. without
The negligence OF the employer. he
burden fails upon the employer . pay
the benefit provided i'm this act. In 9th
crswcrds, it makes the employer and in
sJtrcr Of The men ht eml Toys, makes Hin
li8bl FOR their own negligent acts.
1t Seems To me If We are To pass a
law OF this kind that it is nothing more
than fair right and equitable that We
have DISTINGUISHED. imrart.a! colamis-
sion.
This bill provides that there shall b.
three members, the frst tho insurance
commissioner and the second tie Labor
commissioner. Now [ ob5ec, To thea
Dor commissioner being member Of
this commission. The labor commits
sioner represents the labor interests; he
represents the unions. and ne member
of this Senate will claim that he will
be an impartial judge, as between the
employer and the laborer.
Why gentlemen, it is equivalent To
making Il provision that when a man *
plaintiff in suit in our courts. that he
shall sit on the jury and decide the case
l do not believe that this Senate is GO
ing to constitute d commission of that
kind to pass on matters between labor
and capital. | believe that if you leave
this bill as it is. you will kill it. and
YOU will kill it 81 dead that Gabricl's
trumpet will never resurrect it.
NJ. BUTTON: Sir. Chairman and
gentlemen of the committee: In APP
Pioaciing any matter of legislation we
must deal with conditions as they cx-
list. we must dea! with persons as they
! exist. and not as they are in theory.
This amendment was offered in good
faith and with the declared intention
Of having an impartial commission.
And it is the declared purpose of the
prepayment CT this bill that this commit
tee should be constituted of men who
| can by no possibility have any interest
for one side or the other. with an es-
pecial objection to the labor commits
sioner being called upon to decide
questions between the employer and
The employee. Others might object to
the commission as constituted in the
bill because tie Insurance commits
Si"ner is made one of the commission.
upon the ground That lis bias might be
in the interests of the insurance coEl-
pany. Nov we nave this condition.
We are creating here Il commission
that is required to have certain knowl-
edge. first knowledge of the condi-
tion5 existing between the employer
and the employee in the State Of
Maine. Who, Mr. Chairman, is better
qualified to know those conditions
than he who has given study to the
social and economic questions that
arise between capital and labor Who
Mir Chairman, is better qualified toI
pass important Judgment upon ques-
tons of insurance than he who has
given special attention to insurance
questions?
We must meet the condition that cX-
;sts the condition that coufronts us
1t is not a theory. reatc the commits
sion, Mr.. Chairman. called for by this
amendment, and you Will have exactly
the same proposition presented to Yun
if this bill becomes d law. | claim that
there is 10 reason claim further thai
il is entirely proper that the labor in
tCrcStS OF the State of Maine should
be represented upon this commission
And have gentlemen of the committee
any question but that i'll the making up
of Il commission such as would be APP
pointed under this proposed amend
ment the labor people of the State oil
Maine through their organization,
would properly present to the Cover
nor and Council d demand, and | say
proper demand. that they have upon
that commission person who under
stood tie economic and social condi-
tons existing between the employer
and the employee? It would be just
and a proper demand. 1t would be a |
demand that would appeal to any MEM
Der of the Senate were he seated in the
Executive chamber across the hall. And
| venture to say that no Governor, be !
he present or future governor OF the |
state of Maine. if this proposed amend |
E.ent We're adopted whether he be- |
longod to the Republican party, tie |
Democratic party, the Progressive par |
~ or any other party to be born IN
the future. would turn deaf ear 10 50 !
proper and equitable demand. By /
creating this new commission YOU have
not eVadcd the difficulty suggested by !
The senator from Franklin.
Nor is that all. You have not evaded |
the difficulty that would arise in ap- |