The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-03
HOW LIVES ARE ENDANGERED.
Reforms Needed In Canton Under the
Administration Of The New Factory
Inspector.
BY BER E. WILLIAMSON,


as chief inspector of workshops and
factories, closes. Mr.. Knaub has held
the Office for six years and during that
time much has been done and much
left undone. The work that came un-
der his personal supervision has been
accomplished properly, but In some OF
the districts of the state complaint
has been heard that officials have not
attended to their duties as fully as they
might have done. The districts may
be too large, but there is lack Of
results due to some cause.
There are buildings In various cities
that ought to be inspected and con-
demned, IL the law is not complied
with. There are tenement houses in
every city In which there Is but ono
exit and that by a comparatively mar
row stairway. No fire escapes have
been provided and there is no evidence
that any were ever ordered to be pro-
vided.
Some deputies are diligent and ferret
things out. Others wait until some
body makes complaint, and then there
are times when this complaint is dis
regarded. ia
The salary of deputy inspector,
who has a large district to cover, Is
81, 900 year. To this is added "neces-
sary travelling expensesNta phrase
capable of great elasticity. The larger
the district the more the deputy has
to travel and the larger are his "neces-
sary expenses" So there is no telling
I,,s, - Tor Il a..
during the year. ~
OF course, in the Sixth district, which
includes Stark and a number of other
counties, the deputy inspector, r. II.
Hull, of Salineville, makes but $1,000
year. Nobody has accused him Of
padded expense accounts. Still there
are many things he has not done dur
ing the year. There are many build
ings in Canton whose owners have not
complied with the plain provisions
of the law. There are some who think
more of the dollar than they do of
human life. The cost of fire escape
makes them hesitate, though precious
souls are housed beneath roofs owned
by them, without the slightest means
of escape in case fire should break
out in proximity to the stairway that
is the sole e:it from the building. The
classification of such citizens in the
category of humanity is not difficult.
A deputy inspector has plain duty
to perform with respect to these law
breakers-and they may we'll be term
ed lawbreakers, for surely ose who
jeopardizes human life that he may
20; IN fou ic
my to society as much as is that
other class of avowed lawbreakers who
secure their gains in the night sea-
son and at the expense of the safety
and happiness of others. The deputy,
however, has so large a district to
cover, that II is unreasonable to ex
pect him to personally know every
case where the law is being totally dis
regarded. A deputy inspector is ex-
pected to be neither omniscient nor
ubiquitous. But he is expected to be
available when complaint ought to he
offered.
Citizens themselves are greatly. at
fault in this matter. There are many
men who know their neighbors are
violating specific laws in maintaining :
tenement houses that have no fire es.
capes, Office buildings that offer no
means of egress save one stairway in
case of fire. and factories and stores
that are not equipped as the law con
templates they oucflt to be, for the
safety Of those who are obliged to
remain in them for hours at time AMI
subject themselves to the dangers that
the law was framed to minimize. Yet
these men never report the facts, fear-
ing a neighborhood quarrel, thus leav-
ing many human beings to the fate
that at any time may overtake
them.
Chief Knaub will be Chief Knaub
no longer. after today, when he is sue
ceeded by John H. Morgan, OF Cam
bridge, whom Governor Nash appoint.
ed two days after the election. Chief
Knaub had been holding over and was
an applicant for the position, but Gov
ernor Nash did not care to undertake
a quarrel in the middle of a cam
paign, so he withheld the appoint
ment till the few zephrys the Dem
ocrats we're able to stir up had waited
themselves away. When the new chief
6otLS ihs uC Will lihciy ndhc bOhiC
changes. All new chiefs do. Whether
the changes will affect Mr.. Hull, Of
the Canton district, Is a matter for
speculation. It cannot, however, af-
feet him until next May, when his
term is out, SO whatever may be
suggested as to the needs of Canton
In the way of visit and inspection
by an authorized inspector, will apply
to the Salineville man till that time.
Chief Knaub says that no complaints
have reached him, with reference to
to conditions In Canton, and II they
had they would have been thoroughly
investigated. He says that a deputy
inspector cannot be everywhere and
that citizens ought, II they desire evils
corrected, notify the department nj
Columbus. which will in turn notify
its deputy in the district from which
the complaints come.