Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-22

gentleman from Biddeford TO accept
Report "B" will not prevail. There is
no need for me to make any further
remarks at this time.
The SPEAKER: Are you ready for
the question?
| Mr.. ROUNDS of Portland: Mr..
| Speaker, this bill was put in at the
first of the session and has been in the
hands of the &C mmittee for some time.
| AS YOU all know, there has been law
passed in Congress giving the rail-
/ road EMPLOYEES an S-hour day. These
employees. ask for nine hours in II.
They are willing to work nine hours,
but they would like to put the nine
hours in within II.
| AS YOU all know, the railroad locomo-
! tive engineers and conductors nave
schedule to run on; they have cross
ing points and timetables and every
thing, but it is different with the mo-
torman. He is &C ntinually liable to run
/ over some child when he goes through
the streets there have been num-
Der run over, and, in order that ne
may keep alert and keep his senses
about him, we think it is no more than
Just that he should have nine hours
| in IL. 1t is perhaps hardship 10 some
Of the small electric roads, but II IS a
hardship for you or your children TO
he run over I remember OF case in
Portland only Just a few months ago
when a young child was run over We.
therefore, think it is only just and
proper that there should be some reg
ulation so that there will be time linn
it on these people employed. At the
present time it is "a hours, and nobody
has a say what it shall be.
/ On the steam railroads, the inter-
state railroads. before the Adamson
law was passed. there was a law that
they should make their days run in
16 hours. but UPON these electric rail-
roads which have grown up very re-
! Gently, in recent years there is no reg
ulation therefore, we are only asking
and the employees are only asking what
shall constitute a days work and that
they shall not he compelled to run any
longer. I, for one, would rather they
! put that eight hours in than 10, and
no man should he allowed to run over
10 hours, because I do not think that
a man running longer than that espe-
cially a man running in the evening. Is
alert to the conditions. and he might
run into one Of the automobiles that
arc cominc out Of the cross street and
kill somebody. T. for one. hope that Re-
port "B" will be accepted.
Mr. MORRISON Of Corinth' Mr..
Speaker, if | am correctly informed,
this bill emanates from organized Ia
Dor employed by the Portland Electric
Railway CO. Certainly no man in this
House has more respect for the labor
! ing man than | do. hut we all under
stand that the operation of an electric
I railroad is altogether different from
the operation Of a mill or factory on
account of the rumber of hours during
which the cars have to be operated. If
you will read this bill carefully and
will read between the lires. you will
see that ii effects for instance. an in
crease in wages by using the LeeiSla
ture as a whip tc accomplish that re-
suit.
! do not believe it is the duty or the
purpose Of this LEGISLATURE to ena ct
any law compelling either side, either
capital or labor, to do certain things.
II EMPLOYERS and employees have anv
differences. it seems to me it is their
dutv md their privilege to settle that
differences between themselves There
is On important relationship between
capitol and lohcr: the welfare Of the
one denends upGn the welfare OF the
other: therefore. their interests are
identical and they should cooperate.
Any legislation which we might enact
would only tend to put apart and make
wider those differences which should
strive to bring together, and l think the
members OF the House will appreciate
| that fact
i 1t is possible that a schedule of this
! kind might be effective on the Portland
railroad, but, if you consider some of the
other railroads in this State, you will
| find that the law is not applicable. l re-
| fer more particularly to the Bangor Rail-
way & Electric Company, which operates
two long divisions. namely, the Charles
! ton division and the Old Town division,
If you should enact this law 1t would re-
quire the employees on the Charleston d-
vision to work either eight hours or l.
hours, since it takes four hours to COM
pete trip. It.would work great hard
ship on both the railroad company and
the employees. And right here, gentlemen.
/ l wish to say ] know whereof l speak
(
quainted with the management and with
many of the employees, and | know very
we'll that neither party wishes the passage
of this law. Furthermore the employees
on the Biddeford & Saco Electric Railway
Company are unanimously opposed to the
passage of this bill. If you should enact
this law it will require an increase in
the number of conductors and motcrmen
on the Bangor Railway & Electric Com
pany of from % to 80 per cent. That
means that that much more money must
be expended for labor. Consequently
those conductors and motormen could no.
expect any increase in wages. ] trust,
gentlemen, that the motion of the gen.
tleman from Biddeford, to accept Report
B. will not prevail
Mr.. ROUNDS of Portland: Mr.. Speak
err rise to answer one or two questions.
l am not here advocating a raise in pay:
I am advocating the safety of the patrons
and the public. Now you all know that
we could get out of the way Of the old
one-horse shay or the old horse-car. but
| it is pretty hard work sometimes to
steer clear of electric cars and automo-
biles. l am not here advocating raise
! in pay, and If the gentleman from Cor