New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17
FACTORY INSPECTION.
ONE OF THE NEWEST FIELDS OF
WOMAN'S WORK
A DEPARTMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WHERE
EQUAL PAY IS GIVEN FOR Equal WORK
SALARY OF sicoo

DorAL PAY Is GIVEN FOR Equal WORK
SALARY OF $500
The work OF factory inspection is one OF the
newest fields OF woman's work ard As yet 2 COM
parativey limited one. but there Is no other IN
which feminine ability has been more conclusively
demonstrated. and there can be no doubt that as
time goes on Il will be more and occupied by
women. Indeed they so peculiarly fitted for
certain departments OF the work that at tho time
the legislation providing FOR their employment IN
New-York State was passed every far-minded
man admitted It's NECESSITY Since then almost all
prejudice has vanished. and many manufacturers.
TO say nothing OF employees. sincerely grateful
for what they have done.
One Of the woman inspectors o. Nev-York Mrs.
Ella Magic saws:
Il never met employer yet who was down
right dissgreeaole. 7 have sometimes happened 20
arrive when the were little biz out OF tom
per. but knew :. wasn't my fault and never a.
lowed myself to BE- disturbed by Il. l find New
York employers almost invariably ready and an1-
ious TO make Improvements. and do more ny sIs-
gestion than BY imperative orders"
Another inspector said that though she occa-
sonally encountered hostility Il seldom took long
20 dispel II. As illustration she gave The re-
porter a most amusing account * her frisd recep-
lion at a woi-knovn IS establishment IN Broadway.
the gradual thawing o. the proprietor he con-
Quoted her about the premises. and his cord
ial invitation to her 70 again when she took
her leave.
Come in whenever YOU please" he said you
Will always be welcome"
Women were FIRST employed inspectors on ac-
count OF the presence Of such a large number OF
y omen and children in most factories. FOR only
woman could successfully look after their inter
csts Women employees viii NOT complain 10 a
male inspect about sanitary arrangements. ana
a is not so likely 20 notice the added danger
which woman runs from uncrarled machinery.
! IN ~ h.- hair and .fn ffa fl.lr
r. IS safe FOR a man and if NAV no, occur 10 him
that with woman I, IS different Besides. women
more readily conhie in their seN and they
have noa Learned 10 depend on the woman in
spector % secure whatever improvements are nee
essary L en WIEN the employer is kind and con-
sderate. and they feel sure that be would grant
their requests they prefer TO make known their
wants through the inspector. In such a case. the
IT. spector does not mention. OF course that com
plant has been made but 10 all appearances. dis
covers the evil herself But although first APP
pointed FOR the sake OF their own sex. the women
: ON DO much the ssre work as tho men. In New
York State however through the kind less Of the
present chief OF the Department OK Factory In
specton. Daniel O'Leary they are allowed 10
report brewe-es sawmills boiler factories. IRON
foundries etc. not inspected" and a man IS
detailed TO do the work. The nan. In their turn
report dressmaking millinery and mercantile
houses with workrooms attached rs unlnspected
and women are sent 10 them, as & Is considered
that the later ferret out aous-s II such exist
much better than men can.
The first state in tho Union 70 employ women
factory inspectors was Pennsylvania but NeH-York
followed her n year later-in l"o-and would have
| bean nrst II II had not been for technically.
The number % women now employed as inspectors
IN this state - nine Illinois has seven. Pennsy-
yania i've Massachusetts, tRo and Rhode Island
one Rhode Island employs only Two inspectors
altozo-her-one a man and The other a woman.
Ncw-York may have thirty-slH. and The Ian PRO