Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-30

pounds Of lobster meat at Is cents per
pound. Laws along the line Of the pres
emit 1ol inch law have been in opera
ton in one form or another for 80
years and as a result the catch of lob
sters had decreased from 100000
pounds in 1880 to 100000 pounds in
|1913, yet the value Of the catch of 1880
was but $26s.000 while that of 1913 was
81. 100000. The present lobster law he
declared was a menace to the industry
and had placed the price beyond the
reach of the consumer. He favored the
double guage bill as a solution of the
problem.
Rep. Larrabee of Bath spoke in ia
vor Of the bill and said that he repre-
scented the views Of the fishermen Of
ISagadahoc county.
Rep. Redman of Ellsworth opposed
the double guage bill, stating that 1T
was an ingenious measure and that
while the upper guage was all right
the lower guage was all wrong.
Rep. Newcomb Of Scarboro said that
the present lobster law was violated
worse than the rum laws and that the
Massachusetts smackmen who bought
the nine-inch Holsters brought rum in
to Maine to get the wardens drunk.
Rep. Holt Of Gouldsboro declared that
there would never be any more cheap
Holsters and that the proposed double
guage law would not be beneht to
the fishermen. The demand extending
to Chicago and beyond was greater than
the limited demand when they were
peddled in the streets Of Maine cities
six for q quarter. Rep. Boman OF Vtnat-
haven urged that the House act conser-
vatively in making changes and that to
change the law might drive the fisher
men out of business.
Rep. Allan of Portland insisted that
the ultimate solution lay only in close
time and that such measures would
have to be taken sooner or later.
On a division the motion to accept
the minority report, ought to pass, on
the double guage bill Won an over
whelming victory. the vote standing 116
to IA and the bill was then given its
three readings under SUSPENSIONS of
the rules.
Rep. Boman Of Yinalhavan said that
he wished to offer an and tdmeAt and
was told that he would haYesan opper-
tunity to make an anfendmehe' when the
bill came back to the House.
On motion Of Rep. Wilso* of Port
land the adverse minority report Of the
committee on mercantile affairs and In
surance was accepted upon the act
amending the workmen's compensation
act.
When the act for the better protec-
ton against adulterated misbranded or
inferior fertilizer, which had been tabled
March 20, pending its third reading,
was reached. Rep. Powers of FIT Fair
field moved the indefinite postponement
Rep. Barnes asked that it be tabled
until Friday, in order that he might
offer an amendment which was salts
factory to the agriculturists. Rep.
Newocmb seconded Rep. Powers mo-
stion. saying 1t would be an injustice
to the manufacturers, who make fertil-
izer for many states to be obliged to
brand 1t especially for Maine:s AS to
the expense. the farmers themselves
would have to pay that. and they used
some 100000 tons per year. Rep. Pow
ers stated he was opposed to the bill
being passed in any form
The motion to table was lost
Rep. Barnes then gave a detailed ac-
count of the properties Of the fertil-
izers of different kinds of different uses
and their value for such and such pur-
poses, technical and interesting. Ito those
acquainted. He said that the farmers
wouldn't complain at the cost, but they
did want to know what was in the bar
rel or package for fertilizer they bought,
whether 1t was good for their potatoes
or contained something that might in
jure or destroy the crop.
Rep. Snow Of Mars Hill doubted If
the bill would be of material benefit
to the farmers of his district and he
had found none of them who objected to
the present system.
Rep. Morrison OF Corinth found en-
siderable fault with the bill, whichahe
said was unintelligently and I'M bn-
slstently drawn so much so that he
had been to the agricultural department,
several agriculturists and even law
yers for explanations Of certain parts
and they could not tell him, and say
ing; Suppose it became a law and
one of my constituents asked me to
explain it. I couldn't and he would be
Justlhed in calling me any kind of a
fool that his religion would permit"
Gates Of Vassalboro opposed the bill
Bowman Of Detroit said all Of the agri-
cultural committee favored the new
draft. Messer of Union opposed the bill
On DIVISION the House stood So to
10 for indefinite postponement
Daigle of Wallagrass had adopted
Amendment to FIT. Kent Electric Co.
to sell electricity across the border
Carried and passed to be engrossed
Adjourned at 6:12 until Friday morn
ing.
House Committee Reports