Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-12-28

- be very obnoxious. Under its pro-
visions hundreds Of men have been
convicted and forced to serve a SEN
tence in Jail for no offence other than
being in debt. A large majority of the
lahorers employed in numbering oper-
Ations are supplied by employment
Agencies located largely in Bangor and
Lewiston, Maine, and Boston, Mass.
Many Of the men hired have no con-
ception OF the work they are expected
to do and employment agencies do not
often hesitate to misrepresent condi-
tions. After the man is engaged to do
work which in many instances he is
entirely unfit to do. if he is without
funds Of his own which is commonly
the case, he is furnished with trans
portation into the woods. 90
If upon his arrival there he finds
that the work is not what he engaged
to do, or that it is physically impos-
sible for him to do such work, or he
quits for any cause, he Immediately
is arrested and generally taken for
a trial before a justice who is anxious
the influential lumbermen operating in
that vicinity. AS the unfortunate
men who have been arrested are al
ways without money. or friends there
is no defense in his behalf and the re-
suit as would be expected is a SEN
tence in Jail. Evidence is at hand
which will show that hundreds of men
have been thrown into Jail because of
this cruel and much abused law. Nu-
meros attempts have been made to
have the act repealed but as yet with
out success. All unprejudiced opinions
agree that the law as 1t is now used
is menace and that it should be
abolished.
Employment Agencies
During the past two years numer-
Gus complaints have been received by
this department that employment
agencies throughout the state have
collected fee in excess Of the law for
employment. Other COM
plants charge that all manner of mis-
representations are made to employees
seeking work. Because Of the small
amount Of money at our disposal and
of the limited authority vested in the
department of labor in connection with
agencies. a complete in
vestigation has not been made in all
cases.
We have however become convinced
that employment agencies in general
are conducted in violation Of the law.
that they are detrimental to the best
interests of both THE employer and the
employee. and that legislation should
be enacted which would place the great
economic question of unemployment
under the management of the state and
take 1t out of the Hands Of the agents
who now control it unrestricted.
Municipal officers are charged with the
duty Of enforcing the state employ
ment agency law but so far as we
are able to observe such officers have
failed to properly perform their duties,
and the great army Of workingmen
and women who are being continuous
ly swindled by employment agencies
have no protection under the existing
circumstances.
Improve Factory Conditions
During the past two years persist
ent efforts have been made to i'm
prove the conditions which exist in
Maine factories. workshops and mills
regarding the danger Of loss of life in
case of fire or other disaster. Some
progress has been made though taken
as whole the result is very unsat-
isfactory. There are many of the
large as we'll as Of the small manufac-
turing establishments where the facil-
tiles for escape in case of fire or an
alarm Of fire are entirely insufficient.
If these conditions are not corrected
it is only a question of time when the
laxity Of legislators and local fire off,
cials which has so long existed will
result in wholesale loss Of life of fac
tory and workshop girls as it has in
New York and other states.
"An act was introduced at the last
session Of the Legislature which was
intended to strengthen the present law
which Is inadequate. 1t also provided
for an increase in the authority Of
the Commissioner of Labor in regard
to the enforcement of state fire laws
which is believed to be necessary II
the present dangerous conditions are
" US CAdHSSu DIS IiIc OllCIdlS Ill IIldTy
Of the cities are too much under po-
litical obligations to deal with the mat
ter as they would do II unhampered.
The act which was introduced at the
session of the legislature in 1915 was
referred to the next session with
that legislation be en-
acted for the better safeguarding of
employees in factories. mills and work.
shops against danger from fire.
Increased Demand for Labor
"Within the last two years there
have been many strikes in the State
Of Maine caused largely by the in
creased demand for labor. They have
not been Of long duration or very
hazardous to the industry or business
Involved. The disturbances have
been among the unorgan-
lied. Only a few union strikes have
occurred and they have not been Of
a serious nature. Believing that
strikes are serious menace to indus
trial prosperity. officials Of this de-
partment have endeavored to be in
formed and arrive at the place where
the agitation Is going on within a
short time after it commenced, for
the purpose of assisting the dissatis-
fed parties to arrange a satisfactory
We are pleased to state