Connecticut western news., 1888-01-25
FACTORY INSPECTION.
The Working of a Law Regarding
 Women and Children.

The second annual report of tine inspector and assistant inspector appointed in New York State to enforce the act regulating the employ ment of women and children in manufactur- ing establishments, was made to the Legisla- ture. It covers 265 printed pages. It says that, contrary to the predictions of the oppo- nents of these measures, they have been, after trial heartily endorsed by the people. It has been demonstrated that legislation which tends to the moral and physical elevation of the peo- pie will develop all and cripple no industries. Employees have generally showed 8 disposition to comply with the law, and thereby have ma teria.ly frightened the work of the inspectors. who divided the State into eight districts, placing a deputy over each. In all cases where manufacturers were obdurate legal measures have been resorted to to compel con- pliance. Considerable attention has been paid to establishments in which the use of poisonous material or dangerous ma ehinery IS particularly menacing to the cautions against such dangers have been sug- gested and adopted. Sanitary arrangements in lavatories and closets have been improved Tn great numb of cases, and facilities for escape from fire have been mae more ade quate- The total number of various altera tions ordered during the year was 967, and most of these orders were promptly executed The communications embodied i'll the report are:
 Empowering the inspectors to demand phy. siciAns certificates in cases where there Is doubt as to the ability of the children under l6 years of age to perform the work at which they may be employed with safety to their health.
 Providing that the law prohibiting women under 21 years of age to be employed more than sixty hours in manufacturing establish. ment be amended so as to include females of all ages and including mercantile houses.
 Providing that no female shall be employed in manufacturing establishment at later honr than at night.
 Providing that the age at which children may be employed be increased to IA years, and E that mercantile establishments be included in the provisions of the law.
 Providing that the Compulsory Education law be amended to require children between fuh scholastic year, and providing for officers for it's enforcement.
 Requiring that buzz and jig saws be guarded.
 Providing that means of communication be- tween the working room and engine-room be required in all manufacturing establishments.
 Providing for inspection of steam boilers and examination of stationary engineers.
 Prohibiting the employment in & manufac- tory of any child under 10 wears of age whc cannot read and write in the English language.
 Providing that, in the discretion of the in- spector, fire escapes shall have balconies ex- tending across two windows at each floor, and shall have inclined ladders running therefrom.
 The reports of the deputy inspectors unani- mously favor the continuance of the law. It is recommended by some that the minimum age for employment in factories be raised above 13 years, as 1t IS at present. It is also suggested that the Commission receive power to enforce the repair of unsafe buildings, and that the law should be extended 10 mercantile houses. One of the reports recommends the enactment of compulsory education law to cover the whole State.