The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-03
FACTORY INSPECTORS.
The Ninth Annual Convention In This
City.
Opening Session at Savoy This Fore
noon-Welcomed by Gov. Lippitt.

| o'clock this forenoon.
His Excellency Governor Lippitt was
introduced by Colonel r. Ii. Rockwell,
and delivered short address OF welcome
10 which President Franey OF the associa-
| tion responded in terms that were eulo-
CYSTIC OF Rhode Islands history.
President Franey then delivered his an
nual address Of which the following is an
| abstract:
Factory inspection in many respects is
expert work. No one realizes this better
than those who have spent years OF their
lives in enforcing the various laws gov
erning the employment OF children, the
guarding OF machinery, the location OF fire
escapes. the detection OF unsanitary at mos
phere in workrooms, the supervision OF
plumbing, and the hundred and one other
things which have been put into the fac
tory laws since they first became statutes
In the various states and Canadian pro-
vinces In looking over the law OF Massa-
chusetts i find that our friends there are
required TO prohibit the employment of
small children in factories and stores.
They must be judges of age In order to
prevent fraud, they must see that all
children under a certain age must attend
school at least stated number of days,
and that children must not operate dan
gerous machinery, such as elevators, and
where minor is employed on an elevator
the inspector must learn the rapidity
the minor from working thereon IL ii goes
beyond a stated speed. They must pre-
vent children from appearing as perfor-
mers in circus or theatrical exhibition.
They are required to see that women
in manufacturing establishments and
minors under Is do not work over 58
hours per week, ana they must go at
night to see that children are. not COM
PEELED TO work after p. M, and that
women do not labor in mill or factory
after 10 p. m. They must see that fac
tories are kept clean and well-ventilated.
They have the authority to alter the To-
cation OF doors and stairways in build
lngs in order TO enhance the safety CO the
inmates, and to require the erection OF
such kind of and as many fire escapes as
they deem desirable. They inspect steam
boilers, and must see that the engines
are competent and trustworthy. They
must look after the plumbing and find
out II II is In proper condition, and COM
pei the setting apart of separate closets
for women. They must investigate acci-
dents occurring in the factories, require
changes TO be made that will prevent.
II possible, the recurrence OF such
casualties. They may require all corpo-
have done so, often TO the great expense
OF the corporations. They must prevent
the arbitrary assessment of fines upon
employees by employers in textile estab-
lishments, ana they shave to sayi' as TO
what, II any, such fines shall be. They
must inspect hotels, and prepare draw
ings OF each room in hotels and file such
drawings in their headquarters, and upon
them rests the safety of thousands of
lives In the various hostelries of their
State. They must do many other things
requiring skill and technical knowledge
in the performance OF their official duties.
Practically the same line of work is per-
formed by the New York inspectors, to- |
gether with some additional duties as to |
bakeshops and mines, and in New York |
we must also be our own lawyers and do |
our own prosecuting, for the State will |
not allow us attorneys fees. The inspec-
tors OF Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois
ana of all other states are charged with
nearly the same duties, varying as the
needs of the respective localities
There Is an ethical side, also, to the ex-
perience of factory inspector. He has
from time to time his personal attention
called TO the misfortunes of the poor, who
a hard days labor, permits, oftentimes
unwillingly, that child to enter in mere
infancy upon a life OF toll, TO grow up
illiterate, or neary SO, to be stunted
physically and warped mentally. For
these We feel all the emotions that hui
name consideration OF the circumstances
may warrant. 1t Is not the most unpleas-
ant feature of our experiences TO recollect
hat we can occasionally be OF benefit to
the individual unfortunate while at the
same time faithfully serving the State.
During the past year factory laws have
been improved in several states, notably
in New York, Pennsylvania and Maine.
In Pennsylvania, perhaps as a result of
our philadelphia meeting last year, the
regulation of sweat shops has been estab-
ished, and eight additional Inspector
ships created TO assist in checking the
evils OF those garment-making abomina-
lions. In Maine an additional inspector
has been added to the force. In New York
state the Legislature placed the mines un-
Ter the supervision OF the factory inspec-
ior, authorizing the appo ntment of an
additional deputy TO inspect them, and
% enforce some very salutary and strin-
gent provisions of regulation. The New
ork Legislature also enacted statute for
he inspection OF bakeshops, which is
probably the most radical legislation OF
is kind. Taken altogether the year has
been one OF considerable advance. There |
s marked tendency to have uniform
egislation on factory matters.
In conclusion i desire to express my
1ncere thanks to the other officers, and |
specially TO the secretary-treasurer of the
ssociation for their willing and prompt
dvice and assistance whenever called
ipon. i wish also TO extend my most
hearty thanks to Factory Inspector Rock
veil OF Rhode Island, who for months
has faithfully labored to make this meet
ng success, and upon whom most of
he hard work has devolved. He has
,een tireess in his efforts, and know
hat the convention is unanimous in its
ceiling OF appreciation of his labors.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. ;
The following committees were APP /
ointed from the chair:
On finance, Frances N. Coe, New York;
ames A. Armstrong, Ohio; j. 5. Wern- c
hal, New Jersey. On program, T.. III. $
rockwell and Mrs. Fanny Purdy Palmer 4
{ Rhode Island; James Campbell of
j. w. Knsub OF Ohio; Mrs.
:. Kelly, Illinois; G. II. Morse, Michigan; v
X. Brown, Ontario; j. T.. Dunn. New G
ersey; N. 5. Burton, Massachusetts,. n
The officers OF the association are:
resident, John Franey, New York; vice L
residents, John O'Keefe, Pennsylvania. Il
Iargaret Finn of New York. John 2
'Arey, New Jersey; NJ. n. Baker, Penn r
'lvania; secretary-treasurer, Evan III. h
avis, Ohio.
A recess was taken until this afternoon,
hen number OF interesting papers
arn rgaH |