The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-18
Labor Commissioner Wennerstrum
Gives Some Interesting Facts
in Biennial Report.
THOROUGH INSPECTION OF FACTORIES.
Takes Very Positive Position Com
corning Child Labor-State Board
of Health to Combat Contagious
Diseases-Other Notes of General
Untoroat
Especial Correspondence


Des Moines, Ia, Oct. Estate La
Dor Commissioner G. F. Wenner-
strum, in his biennial report, just
made public, points out many oppor-
tunities Or lettering the condition of
working people in Iowa, and shows
how the industries of the state are
gaining in Importance. OF the 2,231,-
$50 population of the state, 975,641,
or 1875 per cent, live in towns. In
the GA towns of more than 1000 popu-
lation and the six cities with more
than $4,000 population, various manu-
featuring institutions to the number
of 14,s19 have been reported, and
these employ 1858 persons, accord
ing to the census of 1900. The num-
Der has greatly increased since this
enumeration was made. The total
$1o2, 1888 BLOB. The wages paid in 1900
amounted to $780, 31 $50 and the value
of the products was $134,617,S77.
Factory Inspectors.
Supported by opinions of the at
torney general confirming his author
ity to enter factories to make in
spections, Commissioner Wenner-
strum has made it his chief business
during the past IS months to make
the first thorough inspection of Iowa
factories. The result of this inspec-
ton, in which he was assisted by
Deputy A. E. Holder, is the revelation
of many conditions of wretchedness
surrounding the employees in some
factories. 1t frequently happened
that the employer either did not
know that his employees were not
properly protected or otherwise pro-
vided for, or he did not realize the
full import of such conditions. AS
a rule employers were willing to
make changes to improve conditions,
as suggested by the commissioner.
They sometimes said they could not
afford to do otherwise, and were glad
to be shown how to make their en-
ployes better contented, encouraging
them to better effort. Others were
Indifferent to the surroundings, COM
fort and safety of their men, resent
ed the interference of the commits
sioner and refused to comply with his
suggestions as to fire escapes SAM
tary arrangements, protection from
dangerous machinery, etc. Mr.. Wen
nerstrum regrets that the law pro-
hibits him from publishing the names
of any of these offenders, but the
information obtained by the commits
sioner must be kept strictly conf
Dental as to persons. He says:
"While it is but fair to say that the cor
ditions of industrial employment in Iowa
are. on the whole. fairly satisfactory. new
ertheless many of the conditions found in
large numbers of factories are dangerous
to say the least, and intolerable in numer-
Gus instances. Out of the 29O factories
which We're visited only 90 had fire escapes.
The sanitary conditions prevailing in a
large number of factories were exceedingly
dangerous to the health of the employees
and to the community in which the factory
was located"
His observations and Investigations
have led Mr.. Wennerstrum to urge the
extension of factory inspection in the
state, with legislation and means to
make it thorough and effective. Some
of his recommendations are:
Enforcement of wholesome sanitary con-
ditions. especially decent toilet rooms, sep
afate Tor men and women.
Better system of heating and ventilating
for the comfort and health of employees,
especially cold weather. Specific re-
quirements as to ventilation should be
made, insuring a certain amount of pure
air to- each person.
Fire escapes should be positively re-
quired in all factories of two or more stor-
les. This has been shamefully neglected.
Employees should not be subjected to the
dangers or ODen elevators. set SrrawS orear
ing, drive belts, emery wheels and grind
stones.
A law should be enacted requiring all
boilers In factories to be insured, thus Sc
curing thorough inspection by the insur-
ance companies. At present not more than
one-half such boilers are insured and small
precautions taken against accidents.
Stationary engineers should. be required
to pass an examination to establish their
efficiency.
Concerning child labor the commits
sioner takes a very positive position.
He says:
ut seems strange that a progressive
state like Iowa should not be among the
more advanced commemorative of the
union in the matter of protecting children
from too early employment in the Industrial
pursuits. There were voluntarily reported
to me by employers 403 employees under
IA years of age, and subsequent inquiry de-
veloped the fact that 64 were employed.
l am very sure this is much below the ac-
tual number. for when l made my inquir-
les, l found that employers We're averse to
giving me information, and the children
whom l asked seemed to be fearful of con-
sequences in giving me the information
l sought, even when l assured them that
there was no law at present prohibiting
their employment. In one instance |
learned from some of the children that
their employer had sent them all home
tor the day l was to inspect his factory.
Many of the children were as young as
ten years. In many cases the children were
employed at tasks that involved hard and
laborious work. They We're employed for
the same number of hours as the mature
men. and were given no privileges or special
exemptions from work. l took special
pains to observe the physical condition of
the children that l found Working in the
factories, and they impressed me by their
wan and overworked condition. In almost
every instance the employers of these chill
dren indicated very markedly their own
sense OF wrong to the children by such
early employment, and some OF them lmag-
ined they We're violating a state law"
The commissioner recommends a Law
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