Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-27
342 Commitments Since
PeOnage Law Took Effect

Since the so-called peonage law, which
provides for Jail sentence for men en-
ployed in the woods who quit their en-
ployment after receiving advances of
money or clothing. went into effect in
1907, there have been 342 commitments to
Jail under the law, according to figures
compiled by Roscoe A. Eddy, the State
labor commissioner.
These commitments are divided by
counties as follows: Aroostook 80,
Franklin 9S, oxford 6, Piscataquis 63, Pc
nobscot 80, Somerset 80 and Washington
II. From Aroost~ok and Franklin the
commitments are only given by years.
but in the other counties where they are
quently there have been wholesale COM
mitments on a single day. On Oct 3,
1907, in Piscataquis county there were 10
persons committed and in the same coun-
ty on Nov. II, 1913. six persons were COM
mtted and on June so, 1915, seven per-
sons. In Somerset county on Sept. II
eight persons were committed and in the
same county on Dec. 90 II persons were
committed.
ana lHeSe TeCOTuS by IO llltdllS
show the entire number of persons
committed under the act" declared
Commissioner Eddy, for in numerous
cases a number of persons have been
held over night and released without
any record being made"
The fact that a similar law in Ala
bama has been declared unconstitu-
| tional by the supreme court of the
United States and the fact that men,
bers of the judiciary committee in 1907
which reported favorably upon the
measure have since expressed regret
that the bill was ever enacted and de-
clared that it should be repealed are
also cited by Commissioner Eddy
against the measure. He contends that
the legislators would never have dared
to have passed the measure in the first
instance or opposed it's repeal il the
class of employees that it affects were
a class who could go to the polls in
Marie to vote. He also cites the strong
arguments made in favor of the repeal
of the measure made in the legislature
of 1911 by Hon. William r. Pattan-
gall and Hon. John A Peters.
Commissioner Eddy strongly argued
for the repeal of the law at recent
hearing before the committee on labor
and states that he will continue to do
everything in his power to secure the
repeal of the law, which he considers
absolutely unjust and oppressive as
well as being class legislation and I'M
constitutional.
] The law reads: whoever enters into
an agreement to labor for another in
any numbering operation or in driving
logs and in consideration thereof re-
celves any advance of goods, money or
transportation. and unreasonably and
with intent to defraud fails to enter
into said employment as agreed, and
labor for sufficient length of time to
reimburse his employer for said adj
vances and expenses of transportation,
shall be punished by fine not exceeding
$40 or by Imprisonment not exceeding
so days"
According to the advocates of the re-
peal of the law the fact that the men
have no money and are unable to raise
any in most instances makes the sent
ence amount practically to a straight
Jail sentence.
1t is also claimed that as a usual
thing in cases of this kind no attempt
is made to prove intent to defraud, the
fact of leaving the employment being
held as intent to defraud.
In one case where. according to re-
ports received by the labor depart
ment. young man of u was hired to
work by a Bangor agency for a Dan
forth concern he was told that the
camp was five miles from Danforth
He was given an advance of S1.9S as
mileage, got his breakfast and lodging
at Danforth amounting to 81 and start
ed for the camp which proved to be %
miles away. When he arrived at the
first camp he was told if the camp
did not suit him to leave for the other
camp He did so and worked two and
one-half days and left. and went back
to Danforth. Two weeks after he was
arrested and sent to Machias Jail.