New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
BIG RUSH IN FACTORIES.
Thousands of Women Worksng
Long Hours for Holiday Trade.

The approach OF the Christmas holiday season
has again brought to the fore the discussion the
evils OF long hours for employees IN factories
where holiday goods manufactured. In a re-
cent number OF Charities and Commons Miss
May Van Kleeck. OF the College Settlement. gives
comprehensive review Of the subject and points out
facts that little short OF startling In con-
nection with the excessive hours OF work in this
rush season. There are 10000 women workers in
this city to-day employed in 100 factories. Many
of them work regularly twelve hours a day, and
during the rush they often kept busy
as many eighteen hours, with only half hour
out for meals
This. of course. Is contrary TO law. but neverthe-
less the factories continue to practise open VIOLA
tons 1t is said indeed that before very long the
law will be declared unconstitutional. According to
a statement by Commissioner Sherman the pro-
vision prohibiting night work is openly violated
especially in the employment of women more than
twenty-one years old, and the department has
feared to test this particular prohibition because it
is so closely Joined with the prohioition OF night
work by male and female minors that in case of an
adverse decision both prohibitions might be held to
Not ONLY the hours of labor but the conditions
under which women work are held 10 demand more
ceivable that shorter hours may more eff
Client work. less spoiled work and an equal out
support such conclusions may be multiplied. and
facts are not lacking which point to the Possloihty
NAY ISprosIt Iop an indstriai GAIN
one of the most prolific sources OF consumption
and other diseases among working people is i'm
proper ventilation and insufficient light. These
conditions arc aggravated during night work. In
spite OF factory inspection laws and efforts of pri-
vately interested charitable workers, the menace
TO public health from these sources continues I'M
abated. The remedy lies in more inspectors and
more rigid enforcement Of police and sanitary
Improved sanitary conditions in many cities have,
the other hand, been attended with good re-
suits In this city, where the problem of ventila-
common, the Ill effects upon workers said by
those who have observed conditions TO be great in
deed. Dark. poorly ventilated rooms opening on
air shafts often lighted by gas. that the
Vitlatng of the air by breathing is many times ex-
ceeded by the large amount et oxygen which the
open lamps consume. Proper lighting by electricity
men in factories where IL has been tried. direct
profit in more and better work. Such light it is
said reacts. too, upon the moral character Of the
workers and in the end IL or decided beneht 10
them. Artificial ventilation by electric fans has
dCne much 10 improve conditions OF labor and stem
the tide OF the Great White Plague
Miss Van Kleeck has pointed out the way in
which New York may lead toward the attainment
OF the ideal conditions OF work for women.
First she says we need to discover the facts
by investigation with expert sanitary advice in
OF factories-eXpert mechanical advice in the
sruction of safety guards for dangerous machines:
expert medical advice TO the effect of various
trades, processes and conditions of work upon
women In factories. Knowing these facts, we need
a broad and liberal policy in acting upon them
THE first step III such policy must be the de-
cling night work for women. An adverse decision
will arrest the progress of factory legislation not
only IN New York State but in an other states as
well. But favorable decision Will give us a foun-
dation on which to build wise laws SUFFICIENT For
factory needs. Long hours intensity every other
evil of factory wOrk-unsanitary conditions nm
regulating hours therefore establishing a
foundation for better conditions