Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-04
STENOGRAPH|C PROCEEDINGS
Continued from Paoe EIGHT,

Continued from Page Eiaht)
chias: Remonstrance of A. w. Wal.
lace and + others of Rogues Bluff
against same. Oh. l.. no. 1OOS.)
BY the same gentleman: Remon-
STRANGE of r. A. Kinney and IS 9TH
ers of Bucks Harbor against same
IH. p. No. 10OS)
Orders
Mr.. Holmes of Lewiston presented
the following order and moved its
passage:
Ordered, the S enate concurring
that the committee on Labor be, and
is hereby authorized and directed to
investigate the condition of labor in
the textile industry of the State, and
in pursuance thereof to hold hear
ings and conduct Investigations in
any part of the State and to sum-
mon and examine witnesses under
oath or affirmation, and to compel
the production of books, papers ard
records which they may deem peril
| nent to the inquiry, and to employ
stenographers and other necessary
clerical help .Subpcenas for witnesses
and for the production of docu-
ments shall be signed by the chair
of any member; they shall be served
in like manner as subpoenas in
Grand Jury Investigations, and BY
any qualified officer. Failure to obey
such subpoenas shall subject the Of
fender to the penalty of being sum-
moned by the committee to the bar
Of tine House of Representatives to
answer to the charge of obstructinS
its proceedings. The committee
shall proceed forthwith and conduct
the inquiry eXpeditiouSlv and report
their findings to the Eighty Second
Legislature as soon as possible, and
they shall propose such remedial
le Sislation, il any. IS they shall
deem wise, concerning the health OF
| women textile workers and the pub
! lie health, welfare, and safety; and
such proposed legislation may be ill.,
| PRODUCED Notwithstanding any rule
! limiting the time for Introduction Of
new measures now adopted or to be
adopted. The expenses incurred By
! the committee shall be charged 10
the appropriation for legislative en-
pense.
Statement of Facts
The textile industry of Maine pros
pered during and after the war. but
the profits, instead of being divided
as regular dividends, in considerable
part of the industry were divided as
stock dividends. thus greatly increas-
ing the capitalization and forcing the
mills to earn more.--in some in
stances twice as much 1noney. with
substantially the same number of
workers. The increase in the amount
of work in the cotton industry is from
SO 1-3 per cent. to 100 per cent, &C
companied by a reduction in wages of
10 per cent. and a reduction in earn
ing capacity from overwork which
amounts to more than 10 per cent.
Women weavers who were running 16
or II looms have been required with
in the past few weeks to run SO and
40 looms. Women workers have COM
planned to public health officers that
II they take one minute to get a drink
of water it costs them the loss of one
hours wages to catch up with their
work; that to run 40 looms means
walking $50 feet back and forth all
day. Many of these women are moth
ers and prospective mothers. The
death rate of infants under one year
of age in Lewiston in 1924 was the
highest of any city in the United
states. The rate in other cotton man
ufacturing centers in Maine is SINH
larly significant. Many of the textile
workers. are sinking into a state of
sullen despair. There are rumors that
general strike may break out spon-
taneously at any time In the pres.
ent condition of retail business in the
cotton mill centers a general strike
would be financially disastr to the
retail merchants and property owners.
The public health department and the
labor department are without power
to remedy the situation. The legisla-
ture alone has power to protect the
health Of women workers and the pub
lie health. welfare and safety.
The SPEAKER: The question be-
fore the House is on the motion of the
gentleman from Lewiston (Mr.
Holmes) that this order be passed.
Mr.. CUMMINGS of Portland: Mr.
Speaker, without any hostility to the
order and entirely in sympathy with a
desire to obtain knowledge Of facts
anywhere, but as a member of the
committee on labor, the question
arises in my mind as to how much it
will take away from our duties in the
Legislature to undertake that inves-
tigation at this time and do it in any
way that will be satisfactory and eff
fective. In order to consult upon that
with the other members of the COM
mittee. and for that purpose only,
move that the order he on the table.
Mr.. WING of Auburn: Mr.. Speak
CIR
The SPEAKER: The motion is not
debatabIe.
Mr.. HOLMES of Lewiston; Mr..
Speaker, may l ask, through the
Chair, If the gentleman from Port
land (Mr. Cummings will assign a
time?
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Lewiston, Mr.. Holmes, inquiries
through the Chair il the gentleman
from Portland, Mr.. Cummings, will
assign a date certain.
Mr.. CUMMINGS: Mr.. Speaker, I
cannot do it but 1 will assure the gen.
tleman from Lewiston (Mr. Holmes)
that I will take it from the table Just
as soon as I can consult with the
members of the committee. I have no
personal motive to keep it on the ia
Bile. 1 merely do it that / may ascer-
tain, as l stated, if we can do this at
this time without interfering very
greatly with our duties In the Legls
lature.
The SPEAKER: The Chair will
suggest that it comes from the table
tomorrow unless retabled.
Mr.. WING OF Auburn: Mr.. Speak
er, rise to inquire whe her that is a
JCint order.