The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-02
NEW TENEMENT LABOR ACT
IT WILL AFFECT $50. 900 PERSONS IN
THIS CITT.

Unusual Powers Given to tho Factory In
spector-No Manufacturing Can he Done
In Tenements without n License-Penal-
test for Failure to Obey tho Law.
Under an amendment to the Factory law.
which went into effect yesterday. the first
really effective blow has boon struck at tone
mcnt house manufacturing in this State,
especially In New York city. This amendme nt
kreRtly enlarGes the powers OF State Factory
Inspector Williams md his deputies. and is
90 stringent in its provisions that IL IL is rigidy
enforced II will practically put an end to the
placing on tho market Of clothing or other
articles coming under its scope. which are
made under unhealthy or unsauitary condi-
tons.
The old law provided that mo room or
apartment in a tenement or dwelling house
shall be used except by the immediate NOM
bers OF the family living therein. for the manu-
facture OF coats. vests. trousers. knee brooches,
overails. cioaks. hats. caps. Ruspenders. Jerseys
blouses. waists. wristbands. underwear neck
wear. furs. fur trimmings. fur garments
Shirts skirts. purses. feathers artificial flowers
cigarettes or cigars. 1t provided also that no
person could be employed to work in room or
apartment In tho rear OF q tenement altman
ufacturing any OF these articles without a
permit from tho Factory Inspector which per-
NIT could be revoked II the health OF the COM
munity or OF the employees required it. This
law gave the Factory Inspectors no power to
stop the manufacture OF the articles men
toned In any tenement or dwelling house. II
only the immediate members OF the family
were employed. NO matter how unhealthy the
conditions were.
The new law provides that mono OF those
articles can DO manufactured in tenement or
dwelling house. even II Only tho imm odiate
members OF the family are employed. unless
license is granted by tho Factory Inspector
This license can only be granted II the factory
inspector Is satisfied that the conditions are
such that the health Of the workers. or the
public. 10 not menaced by the manufacture or
sale OF these articles. UNI brellas and clothing
sent for alterations being included in the list.
Tho Same conditions apply to articles made in
buildings in the rear OF o tenement.
The amended law requires that articles
made or altered contrary to the provisions
shall not 30 exposed for SALE They can be
labelled tenement made" by tho Factory In
speetor or his deputies, who can report all
cases where goods are illegally mado. or made
whore there is any infectious disease or other
unhealthy conditions to the local Board OF
Health. which Is empowered to seize and de-
stroy them. The essential provisions OF the old
are included In tho amended law. any violation
OF which is q misdemsanor. punishable by fine
or imprisonment or both. Manufacturers
must furnish a list OF their contractors or
other employees when demanded by the
Factory Inspector. and are liable to punish
sent under tho law II they employ people who
work In violation Of its provisions. The land
lord. who lets house or part OF q house to
persons who violate the law is also liable.
All tho manufacturers whose addresses
could be found were notified about four weeks
aGo concerning the new law and told that it
would 20 into effect yesterday. There are
about $4,000 factories, large and small
throughout the State. OF which about 5000 arc
In this city. Up to Yesterday there were 5000
applications for licenses Of which 1850 were
filed In this city.
There was a rush Of applicants to the sub
ONCE OF the Factory Inspection Department at
Twenty third street and Madison avenue dur
ing the past week and yesterday and Thurs
day the of1ices were virtually In state OF siege
One-half. at least. OF the applicants OF the
last two days were from the east side. and
many OF them could not speak English. Some
bf them looked like men who had Just landed.
Ind they drove a corps OF interpreters frantic
through their inability to understand tho law
when IL was explained to them.
Nine hundred applications were filed within
the last two days. Though the law is supposed
TO have gone into effect yesterday. all tho ap-
pltcations Will nave TO DO investigated. Whlch
may take number OF weeks. though fourteen
now factory inspectors have been appointed.
Superintendent OIeary said yesterday that
until this now law was passed. the department
had always been hampered by the fact that the
old law was easy to evade. though the condi-
lions OF the factories generally had been great
ly improved.
This amended law" he said. gives us all
the necessary powers. We can proceed against
people In Massachusetts,. for instance. whore a
similar law Is in effect. who make goods under
illegal conditions for firms in New York. II
will take some time to get matters moving
but predict in year all the bad features Of
tenement house work will be wiped out. The
law affects 200. 900 persons In New York State
OF whom about 10000 are In New York city
90 you can see the extent OF the work before
us."