New-York tribune., 1901-01-28
EVILS OF SWEATSHOPS.
REPORT OF THE STATE FACTORY IN
sPECTOR ON THE SUBJECT.

Albany, Jan. 27.-The "sweatshop" problem,
the conditions existing in the tenement houses
of New-York City and the effect of the new
license law for dwellings in which articles
manufactured are treated by State Factory In
spector Williams in his report to the Legislature.
Among other things he says:
The, utilization Of the tenement labor in some
branches OF manufacture is very extensive. espe-
cially in New-York City This is undoubtedly
willingness-yea. the eagerness-of the class that
thus labors to accept the starvation prices offered
is easily traceable TO their habits of living and
existence and subsistence 1t is nevertheless sad
the dawn of the twentieth century men who hold
their heads high in the business world. and pre-
traffic in the very lfeblood of their fellow men.
Every effort is eXerted by officers of the Depart
ment to bring about the best possible conditions in
workrooms and apartments However, under the
cent laws restricting the hours of labor for all
women and minors and prohibiting the employ
child labor in order to swell the pittance received
from unscrupuious manufacturers and contractors
are Undoubtedly two of its most baneful evils. This
condition never be successfully or wholly regu-
factory.
Tenement house manufacture is also unmxed
SanaF pd % % The possibility III t,o OF
a result thereof is of the greatest dan
gers attendant thereon This death dealing and
and no labor is too arduous or task too difficult
MilDn tI H%S % I6a us PufpoSf the Gurtailment and
obnoxious method of production
CONDITIONS GREATLY IMPROVED.
pRoT5 e e9sS of the % report vastly
dwelling house workshops Every part Of this law
has been tested and found effective. There is but
and that IS the difficulty of obtaining correct and
rGfmIan5e fId5e Information from many of those en-
v,ton nT @% should be amended by adding pro
tach to each sucb rfcI Ia b{ Woe % or IN & &P@r TO TO at
nan and ad.
dress OF the owner or his agent, for purposes of
Identification until such time as the article is re-
The boroughs comprising greater New-York con-
stltute by far the largest garment manufacturing
centre in the country If not in the world The
sweating evil is so strongly intrenched in this
terrltory that years of labor are necessary in
der to bring the rooms and apartments used for
contemplated by law 1t must be borne in mind
mat 10 remedy or eradicate all the worst evils
culean task and while the factory laws. as at
P6Tabe rsg of t faRnot Whoy abolish the de-
its vicious effects. still we can do and have done
forcing the rules and regulations which provide
for the observance of the ordinary laws Of health
THE GRANTING OF LICENSES
During the year the department carefully inves-
tgated 2,6ol applications for licenses received
from the territory of greater NewYork. our in
plicants to manufacture in their apartments, work
to them. required by law while 6.OS2 were de-
MED the privilege. owing to unlawful conditions
eN-e-+'S ~ sIDoHN tHe4E pItIllSeS during tAo
same period 2.35i licenses were revoked still we
have remaining and in full force at the close Of
the report year 1868 licenses.
One OF the most unpleasant features OF the work
or enforcing this law s the tagging OF goods being
unlawfully manufactured IN a tenement or dwell
ing Considerable opposition Is experienced by the
inspector; in fact. frequently find 1t necessary
to send two officers torether in order to perform
successfully this duty. Goods were tagged in
about eleven hundred instances during the year in
greater New-York The value OF this provision OF
the statute especially in the metropolis cannot
be overestimated.
The inspectors have several occasions taken
clothing in process Of manufacture from between
tho folds OF unkempt and uncean bedding and
aiilXed thereto that most feared OF all emblems
ma fauy