The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
The Labor Commission Is Inves.
tigating the City's Bake
Shops.
PASTRY COOKS IN FLAGRANTE
Two Special Deputies Inaugurate
the Practical Work OF
Inspection.

A day of reckoning for the beings who
preside over the kneading-troush has
come. The Augean bakeshops OF the City
are to be cleansed. and the Hercules who
is to undertake the job is none other than
Hon. E. L. Fitzgerald, the genial Labor
Com missioner.
Since he assumed charge of the Labor
Bureau Mr.. Fitzgerald has had in view
sweeping reform in the present manner OF
conducting many of the smaller City
bakeries In his last official report he uses
the following language:
detailed nv agents to investigate this par
tcuar industry carefully, 1nstruetng them 10
take cognizance OF every detail of the work,
making thorough and careful report OF every
place visited. They began with the larger
bakeries whose business is strictly wholesale
they were found to be in q good CONDITION:
One in particular l deem worthy OF especlal
notice. Upon entering the factory ard pre-
senting their credentials they were taken by
the manager and shown every nook ana corner
OF the establishment.
The factory, from the ground floor to the top,
every floor, machine and other appurtenances
showed studied care and neatness. In tne
packing rooms were bevies of young ladies at
the tables, chatting gayly over the events or
the day packing in the various boxes the crisp
crackers, nicnacs or macaroons The air was
pure and refreshing, the floors were white as
man-of-war deck, and everything had an air OF
wholeSomenesS.
The scene presented pleasing spectacle to
the eve and one felt reluctant in leaving. In
conversation with the manager 1t was learned
that for the many years he had been III the
manufacturing business 1t had always peen
study with him as to what more he could 90
for the convenience of his operatives, thor
oughly believing that attention and care IN
this regard insured better results from a busl-
ness standpoint. ] understand that this es-
tablishment is about TO open q hospital annex
for its operatives. He complained that the
product of the biscuit and cracker companies
OF this State is subjected TO q competition with
goods OF Oregon, which is damaging. to the
business, as the goods imported were OF very
much inferior quality, and consequently bring
less price to the injury OF our home lnstltu-
tions.
The work of investigation covered the in
spection OF about $50 bakeries, whose opera
tives numbered variously from two to ten
each, which said places were found to be In In
different conditions. Some were good, many
fair and many in bad condition. In many
places where improvements were necessary
the respective proprietors promised faithfully
to make the needed changes, hence VIII not
particularize or call by name any OF these per-
sons, who are inclined to do right and nave
confessed to carelessness in the past
However it may be well to describe one or
two of the places where the breadstuifs con-
sumed by the thousands OF San Franclscans
are prepared. Entering by a precipltous stair
way from the sidewalk to the foul.smelling
cellar over which the fat and grease for years
were allowed to accumulate, you proceed to
the tables where the bread is MADE. Inc
thin whose features bear the result OF the
labor from day to day in this place. which is
not tit for the abode OF the despicable rooent.
Here he tolls, breathing the odors of the de-
cayed fruit, which was too bad TO use, and the
neglected eggs, which some time before had
outived their usefulness, all thrown INTO
barrel near by, whose efiuvia We'd with the
few remaining atoms OF oxygen for supremacy.
On the right stood an open tierce OF lard half
used which showed the tngernalls OF the hand
that had used the SPOON which marks snoWeo
quite contrast to the dust which had settled
upon the rest. While there l watched the
dough neatly rounded and cut upon the top,
and afterward saw it come srom the oven, well
Drowned, and fine, giving forth the .odor
which reminded us of our mothers kitchen.
1t looked decidedly out OF place and 1nhar-
monious with its filthy environments.
Proceeding hort distance further kicking
here and there the nodded crusts and decayed
fruits one felt like rolling up his trousers or
wearing gum-boots for protectlon; came TO
the pastry department, where the lady finger,
macaroon creamcake and the different
varieties of pie are manufactured. here ana
there were the open and partly used cans OF
pie fruit here drawers of berries OF different
ages and more pale and sickly bakers, who,
when interrogated said they were compelled
to work in this grimy place for twelve TO SIX
teen hours per day. Passing on from this de.
partment to examine the sanitary condition OF
the plumbing we find Il broken door partially
hiding closet of ancient design, which had
refused some time since 10 perform the WORK
for which it was intended. This feature did
not materially improve the already exlstlng
model filth, and in disgust and nauseated
feeling left the hovel.
A visit to another place disclosed the follow
ing: Entering cellar that from sanitary
point of view quite excelled the former, the
rotten boards in places bearing down under
the weight of the body, permitted the filthy
water tn exude which resembled in color the
contents of sewer. Passing on from one
operative to another, the same pallid express
whose physique denoted the rayages OF
scrofula, q sickening sight, busily engaged in
compounding the ingredients of sponge cake
or some other like substance. was astounded.
not at finding this individual, as nothing
would have surprised me in this place of rot
tenness, but was astounded at the manner In
which thousands OF the residents OF San Fran
ton of this Understanding, germ-carrying
produce.
. This investigation has developed singular
and surprising fact. The above recited con-
ditions of filth are not only found in the
cheaper and remote bakeries, as inspection re-
veas that some OF those centrally located. most
elaborately decorated and patroniZed by the
most exclusive class, while not the worst are
far from being the best, and 1t is to the interest
of the patrons of these high-priced and so-called
first-class establishments to give this matter
the consideration that their condition jnstiiies
and cooperate with me in remedying this ur-
fortunate state of affairs.
Now for the remedy. After careful con-
sideration of the matter am satisfied that
while the enactment of a law requiring a
perfect condition of sanitation with penal
clause for its violation might prompt pro-
prietors to its observance there still remains
the difficulty of its proper execution by sala-
ried officers, who are apt to slight the same, as
other laws are now allowed to slumber un-
Needed so in order to effectualy remedy this
matter have had printed a certificate, which
reads as follows:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal.
This is to certify that 1 have examined the
premises at No. street, used ly