Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-29
STATE ENFORCEMENT
Local Official Enforcement of
Factory Employment Law
To-Be insufficient
BRIGHAM MAKES STATEMENT
State Labor Commissioner Favors Bill
to Provide Factory lnspectors-Great
Demand for Data Concerning Econ
omic and Industrial Conditions of the
state-child Labor Vital Question.
snecia, to rimes-Republlcan.


Des Moines, Feb. 29.-Now that it is
practically certain the bill to prevent
employment of children in factories.
WORKSHOPS mines, ETC., will become a
law, it is seen that if this law, as well
rs the one passed two years ago for
safety and sanitary regulations in fac
tories, are to be enforced and made eff
fective in every part of the state, there
must be less of dependence on the
whims of local officials for enforce
.ment and more OF the machinery of the
state to secure their enforcement. The
bill to increase ia a Very modest way
the working force of the state bureau
Of labor statistics will be passed on i'll
committees this week. It provides for
two factory inspectors and an office
clerk. There has been no increase In
the force in this bureau since 1896.
when the deputy was provided, but
there has been n steady increase in the
business done and work required. The
following from the commissioners re-
ports shows the growth of manufac-
turing establishments. in twenty years
after the establishment of the bureau:
Number of establishments in Iowa
Increased from 1921 in 1850 to 1853 in
1900. or ia per cent.
Capital invested increased from $685.
pS7,SS6 to $l02,733. 1903. or 209 per cent.
Amount of wages earned annually
Increased from $4S,704,Sll to $101,179.-
S57, or 40 per cent.
Value of product increased from $71.-
G45,s26 to s164617,s77, or 1s1 per cent.
Commissioners L. D. Brigham made a
statement before the labor committee
In support of the bill to provide fac
tory inspectors. saying:
1.-THE Twenty-ninth general assem-
bly, enacted a factory regulation and
Inspection law which is stringent and
valuable. It involves much additional
work, but no means We're afforded to
enable the commissioner to attend to
the added duties. A conscientious eff
fort has been made to cover the field
and as much factory inspection has
been done as possible by two men with
An allowance Of $500 year. along with
their other duties under the law. The
chapter on accidents in the last report
xiiscloses to my mind unahswerable ar
guments In favor of the measure for
two factory inspectors, IL the state can
afford more. Such number will be
y,sJfe to take up the work and keep pace
with the rapid increase of our manu-
featuring and mechanical plants. and
exert helpful influence toward prop
er sanitary conditions in them and ar
range for the safeguarding of machin
cry. / desire to call especial attention
to the chapter OF factory inspection in
the report, particularly the matters re-
lating to fire escapes and child labor,
wherein is set forth as fully as possi-
BILE what has been accomplished by the
bureau and what have been the diff
cplties attending the work. Child la
Dor is a vital question to all the people
q CT the state and IL the bill now pend
Ing shall become law the further
need OF an increase in the working
force OF the bureau will be apparent.
The demand from students in all walks:
of life. especially the faculties OF our
higher educational institutions, for
data concerning the economic ana In
dustrial conditions of the state is con-
slant and increasing. Every effort has
been made to furnish the information
desired and requested and this feature
OF the work OF the bureau Is worthy OF
greater encouragement and support"