Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-28
LABOR BUREAU ACTIVE
A New Era in Labor Statistics
Commissioner Wennerstrum Goes
After Information.
Will Assist in Locating New Manu-
featuring Enterprises Where
They Are Needed
Ebert Hubbard Clears Beardshear
Of Charges Of Plagiarism-A
Serious Joke.
peclal to Times:Republican.

Z.
Des Moines, June as.-C. F. Wenner-
strum, the new labor commissioner,
and his deputy, Arthur T.. Holder, of h
Sioux City, are industriously prepar-
inspection that has ever been at
tempted in Iowa. They have already
secured, thru the circular which was
sent out some time ago, more than
twice the number of employers than
the Office ever had before. Among the
questions asked of factories BESIDES
those Of an ordinary character are the
following:
Are children under IA years of age
employed? What hours Of labor are
required Of women under q and males
under is for a day? Are operatives all
lowed to clean machinery while in mo-
ton? Are cautionary Instructions Civ
en- employees handling machinery? Are
boilers inspected by a boilermaker or
engineer? Are hoisting shafts properly
enclosed and secured? Are proper trap
and automatic doors provided in all
floors where elevators are used. Are
proper hand-raiis for stairs provided?
Are fire escapes provided? Are auto
matte shifters In use for throwing belts
on or off pulleys? Are watts. pans. saws.
lscogs and all gearing and machinery
properly guarded? Are exhaust fans or
blowers provided for carrying off dust?
Are workrooms properly ventilated?
Are suitable Mushrooms and water
closets provided?
The question arose as to whether the
4 l,o ty,o fo,, n
ter a. factory for the purpose of inspec-
Ition without the consent of the owner.
The law provides as follows:
Chapter s, section o,412, code of 1897.
Right to enter premises
The commissioner of the bureau of
5|labor statistics shall have the power.
l|upon the complaint of two or more per-
4 sons. or upon his failure to otherwise
/, ,obtain information in accordance with
1.-THE provisions of this act. to enter any
sl5factory or mill, workshop, mine. store,
business house public or private work.
q siwhenTthe4 samesis open or in operation.
y upon a request being made in writing.
Il for the purpose of gathering facts and
4 statistics such as are contemplated by
\ this act, and to examine into the meth
y ods of protection from danger to en-
4 ployes. and the sanitary conditions in
4 and around such buildings and places.
4 and make a record thereof, and any
owner or occupant of such factory or
Il mill. workshop. mine, store, business
4 house, public or private work, or any
agent or employe of such owner or oc-
. cupant who shall refuse to allow any
Il officer or employe of said bureau to so
Il enter or who shall hinder him. or in
=, any way deter him from collecting in
Sl Formation, shall be deemed guilty OF a
. and upon conviction
81 thereof. before any court of competent
II tiurisdiction. shall be punished by a fine
Iof not exceeding 500 and costs of
. prosecution, or by imprisonment in the
lcounty Jail not exceeding thirty days.
Commissioner Wennerstrum desiring
Ito be safe. asked the opinion of the at
ittorney general as to whether the COM
4 missioner must first obtain or secure
1.-the complaint of two or more persons
. before he can enter a factory. or does
the law mean that he must make an
:. Determination Of factory upon receiv-
ling such complaint and does the law
lsauthorize him to make an examination
on his own Initiative after first having
{ asked permission in writing to inspect
+ a factory. as the law requires. Attor-
) neS SIenefal fseIittes III i'ts ol'ihiob
i says:
i The purpose of the law. among 9th
er things, is unauestionably to secure
. 1.-The best possible protection for the life
4 and the health of the employees. A
! power often implies a duty. Where
!, complaint is made by employees or 9TH
{ ers, as to the insufTiciency of the appli-
ances to secure the life. health and
comfort of the employees. I think it is
!. the duty Of the commissioner to make
: personal inspection. exercising there
{ by the power to ente the building
e when ii is in opera ton. after making a
. irequsst therefor in writing. But if for
a any cause he deems the information
z which he has obtained not satisfactory
t l do not think he is limited in his ac:
i ton until after a complaint is filed. He
may make a request i'll writing and II
granted enter the building, and If re-
fused permission he may proceed t.
r enter the building without the consent
: of the owner.
: Commissioner o Bleness took the po.
: sition that he did not have the au
d thority to make these inspections with
$ out complaint from two persons. ant
: that it was not his business to work VI
such complaints. so whenever he wa:
refused admission TO factory the fac
tory was not inspected.
Z The result of Commissioner Wenner
4 strum's efforts to advertise desirable
/. locations for factories has been quit
satisfactory. He addressed circula.
letter to newspaper editors. mayors o
towns and members OF the legislature
and from one-half to two-thrids o
: those addressed have replied giving in
70 : formation OF new Industries recent.
= started and of openings for the estab
lishment of others. The next step vii
be to put this information in the hand
i of probable investors and manufactur
l. ers seeking good openings. This Is
i. new idea that Is being developed b
" Mr.. Wennerstrum under section 247O o
the code. which provides:
"The cn..,.::::S;ss,,oo1is1 shall. collect III
formation OF and report on sites offer
.. ing natural or acquired advantages 70
lie the profitable location and operation q
y, different branches of industry; he sha
by correspondence with interested PAL