The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-25

to us for our consideration about 1000
affidavits of children between the ages Of
fourteen and sixteen.
Zone of the portions of our work
which perhaps receives the greatest at
tention from the community at large is
the enforcement of the child labor pre-
visions. During the past year we have
discharged from the factories throughout
the state 23S children. Although no
doubt there are, instances where there
are children under IA years of age EN-
ployed in factories. at the same time |
think | am safe in saying that the child
labor situation was never insas good
condition as it now is. The school au-
thcrities in some sections are very active
in their efforts to secure the enforcement
of the compulsory education act, while in
other places apparently but little effort
is made in this direction. If the educa-
tional authorities generally exercised
themselves more to see that the children
in the various districts are kept in schoQt
until they are IL years of age, the work
of our department would be much lessen
ed. In order to prevent the opportunity
Of a child being taken from a factory
and permitted to run the streets we have
followed the practice of notifying the
nearest school authority simultaneously
with the discharge of the child.
isThe department has endeaVored to ac-
quaint the manufacturers with the re-
quirements of the factory act, and think
by the time they are pretty generally un-
derstood. Abstracts have been posted
throughout the State, and copies of the
law have been mailed to practically ali
the firms we have been able to locate.
Every effort has been made to insure
lection for operatives. particularly in
safeguarding machinery, OF in providing
sufficient exits in case of emergency, and
you will notice that 394 orders have been
issued, calling for changes which will
better secure this protection.
'srhe section on construction of blow
ers is one of the most important steps
taken. The department is especially
pleased with the results which it has
been able to accomplish in this direction.
The disposition of the manufacturers has
been to meet our requirements without
any serious opposition, and we have is
sued orders for the installation of 164
blowers. In this connection it should
be borne in mind that, in addition to the
original cost, there is a constant expense
for maintenance and operation. The
amount of good which is accomplished
by their installation cannot be oyeresti-
mated, as it is generally conceded fact
that their introduction reduces to the
minimum the dangers of the occupation.
Doctors generally agree that the dust oc-
casioned by this class of grinding and
bufing is highly injurious to the eye,
throat and lungs.
The department has been especially
active in securing better sanitary ar
rangements throughout the factories of
the state We have issued Alb orders
calling for alterations which will secure
more healthful surroundings. We have
endeavored to provide conditions which
will afford more privacy for female op-
eratives.
Perhaps one of the .most important
features of the factory act is that per
tanning to the construction of fire es-
capes. The department has been especi'
ally anxious to place safeguards wher
ever legally required. We have issued
129 orders calling for the erection Of fire
escapes on factories throughout the
state and feel that in their construction
the dangers arising from fire and panic
will be greatly reduced.
st has been our policy to insure the
provisions of the act with as little an
noyance and interference with the con-
duct of the business of each individual
| manufacturer as possible. and we are
glad to say that our inspectors are gen
orally treated with the greatest courtesy
and consideration. Many changes and
betterments have been secured practical
ly with the concurrence OF the manu-
facturers. and up to the present time we
have not found it necessary to bring any
action in securing compliance with an
order calling for factory betterments 1t
hase been our practice to follow up or
ders in such manner as to insure their
compliance. We have thought it advis-
able to weigh carefully the conditions.
surrounding each case before issuing an
order on the subject, but after it is is