The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
STATE HEALTH BOARD WILL
INSPECT RAILWAY CAMPS
Report of Labor Commissioner Is
Acted Upon by Governor and
Unsanitary Conditions Noted.
OFFICIAL IS PRAISED
Letter of Generalization Sent
Hospital Physician Tenders
Aid to Inspectors.

Wholesale changes will be made in the
Shutt Improvement COmpany's camps in
southern Indiana, under the direction OF the
State Board OF Health. The unsanitary
conditions found BY State Labor Commits
sfoner Mccormack IN his recent inspection
have prompted Governor Durbin to notify
the State Health Beard to have an inspec-
ton Of the camps made at once.
This notification will be received by Sec
rotary Hurry tomorrow. AS soon as this
is done. the state authorities will
begin the inspection. The Governor is
determined that defects in sanitation at the
camps must be remedied. Included in the
inspection of the State Board of Health
will be a minute inquiry into the manner Of
living Of men employed by the Shut com
pany upon railway improvements in Dear
born county.
This is but the first step taken by the
Governor after reading the report Of the
labor commissioner. The report. whose pro-
visions have not yet officially been made
public, was a source of pleasure TO the
Governor who wrote a letter of congratu-
lation TO Labor Commissioner Mccormack
for his diligence in the investigation.
WAGE DISCOUNT NOT BALANCED.
III addition to recommending State in
spection, the labor commissioner finds that
the discounting of the mems wages by
Cincinnati spectators is the fault of the
men themselves, and no action on this
point will be taken. There is no recourse
In the matter OF the wage payments. which
are made monthly, a thirty-days' ''hold-
back being always retained by the COM
pany. The labor commissioner finds that
the men would probably not render steady
employment should the wage-payment plan
be not resorted to-
Secretary John " Hurry, of the State
Board OF Health, discussed the condition
OF the camps yesterday.
Before deciding what the board will do
I will consult DIR. Wishard. president Of
the board" he said inspection by men
sent down for that purpose appears to me
as the best way OF handling the situation. ."
DIR. Hurry will confer with President
Wishard this week, and within the next
fortnight much, il not all, the causes of
complaint about the camps will have been
removed.
Valuable aid will be given the State
Board by Dr. G.. F. Smith, of Cincinnati
former physician of the Shut Improvement
company; Dr. smith mas rendered MS OF
fees TO the State for any service of which
he IS capable.
HOSPITAL SERVICE APPROVED.
The report of the state labor commits
sioner mentions this offer. The hospital
service of the company, free TO its en-
ployes. made the basis of criticism in re-
cent complaints, was found by the labor
commissioner to be the best under the
circumstances DR.. Smith has been in
charge OF this service since the camps were
first instituted.
When asked regarding the above recon-
mendations of his report yesterday, Labor
Commissioner Mccormack said: II cannot
make any details public until the Governor
makes some statement. / believe that the
inspection of the camps is the best thing
the State can do Mr.. Shut, who is car
rying on the massive engineering in Dear
born county. is a practical man of great
experience, and believe that the outcome
will be all right"
In spite of his assurances of any reason
able aid. rendered the State, il is proposed
20 push the investigation still further if
necessary.