New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
FACTORY INSPECTION METHODS.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE RE1NHARD COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT WILSON. OF THE HEALTH BOARD.
A wIrNEsS-CONFLICTING VIEWS OF


PRESIDENT WILSON OF THE HEALTH BOARD
wGTNEss-CoNFLGCTING VIEWS OF
THE AINswoRTH BILL.
The final session Of the Renhard Assembly COM
mttee WAS held yesterday in the Adermen's Cham-
Der. in the City Hall.
President Wilson. Of the Board OF Health Was
questioned by Henry S. Mayer. counsel TO the com
mttee. in regard to the Mercantile Employment
bill. giving additional authority to factory inspect,
ors. He replied that the proposed bill would tehd
to divide responsibility.
do you believe that any additional powers are
needed by the Board of Health in order properly 20
investigate or control sweatshop abuses asked
Mr.. Mayer
Il do not" SAID Mr.. Wilson. The witness was then
asked 20 explain the workings of his department III
gathering Information He said that the inspectors
who conducting house-to-house inVeS.'s.-
ton begun In June last, would be ready to make a
report in few days. The report would give a com
plete account OF every tenement-house where man
ufacturing carried on. and Of its conditions,
with a history of the occupants. The Board had
ample powers in regard to preventing the spread OF
contagious diseases.
Il believe" said Mr.. Wilson that law should
be passed requiring that foreisn-born children
should have their ages certified to- and that au-
thority for them to be employed In mercantile pur-
suits should be granted only on the presentation
OF proper proofs that they are not under me
prescribed age I believe that such work should
be under the Jurisdiction OF the Board OF Health
and not that of the factory inspectors"
In regard supervising the sanitary arrange
men,s of all mercantile establishments Pres;deni
beyond the tenement houses would require large
Increase In the present force OF inspectors
Henry Steinert. counsel for the Board or itealth
was next called. and replied 10 questions resatu-
ing the structures made by civil Justice Hoidosle
in Ms recent testimony before the committee
Judge Ciodfogle," he said. does not understand
the law, and IL laboring under misappre hehsion,
II is not the object Of the Board TO drag a man
into police court and DEGRADE MN because ne ials
70 vhltewash his ceiling. our object Is 10 enforce
the law and not TO eXtort money by penalties
The witness EXPRESSED the opinion that the pow
transferred to the Board OF Health
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, kn9wn as he he "T9m ms
had passed every day for the last I'VE years IN
irving to assist unfortunate women -,
II come here TO protest against bill which WI
drive hundreds Of girls out of work. she said
Every woman has right 20 earn living i op-
pose the Ainsv orth bill, because IL places in stores
inspectors supervise the employment oil slIls
tween the ages OF sixteen and twenty-five years
What harm could that do?" asked Chairman
Renhard ~
establishments would not stand II. They would hire
older women and the young girls would he thrown
cases girls under fourteen should be allowed TO WORK
in stores. They would be protected better II they
working , . .
Mrs Edward Lauterbach took opposite ground TO
Mrs Forster on the advisability OF passing the
Ainsworth Bill. She said she had received letters
from number OF girls thanking her for the inter-
est she had taken in trying to aid the passage OF
E " BoomingdaIe OF the firm of Boomingdale
the passage Of the Answorth bill II set tortn
his Views verbally expressed at one or the former
hearings Of the committee.
The committee then adjourned. II was announcer
that any one desiring be heard further could sub
init statements in writing to the committee up TO
and including December % at the Murray mn
Hotel