The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-27
WOMAN DEPUTY
 FACTORY INSPECTOR Strong Argument Why Women Should
 Select Her. EMPLOYERS APPROVE. Factory Inspectors Unlikely to Realize Woman's
 Temperament.
EMPLOYERS APPROVE,

There seems to be practically uni- versal agreement nor only in the gen eral assembly, so far us ascertalned. but in the columns of the press and the opinions of the people of the state as well, that the time has come for woman deputy factory inspector, to look after the conditions under which our 52,0O0 Working women and chill dren are employed. But there seems to be in some quarters a disapproval of the special feature of this bill, the plan of having commission of three women appointed by the governor to select her.
 It is objected by some that if the inspector can select his male deputies why can he not select this woman dep uty? Because 1t is comparatively easy to find good mechanicians, plumbers, engineers and the like, in which lines alone these deputies need to be expert; but the ideals of character and ability which the promoters of this bill have in mind for this woman deputy arc so high, that it will by no means be an easy matter to find her. To investigate | not only the physical conditions under which women work but other condi- tions which make for their welfare (as cfo ;,. -toL moral conditions as well, calls for a | woman of exceptional character, com mon sense, Judgment and tact It is | thought that the women of this com mission selected by the governor for | good judgment and disinterested pub lie spirit and who will have time for this arduous search would be more likely to find such woman than a | man could. There is perfect confidence in our present Inspector and all would be satisfied with his selection, but the purpose of this bill is to look out for the future as well as for a possible chief inspector, who might not be in | sympathy with the ideals of the posi- tion.
 It is objected that the woman should be on the same footing as the men. In ' this bill she is absolutely so; she is to serve under the chief inspector in all respects as the men do, and is remov- able by him alone, without consulting the commission. She is under him just as the others are. The only difference is that he has assistance in finding the woman. If he does not find the candi- date of the commission capable he can remove her at once.
 A third objection is that this method is unusual in factory inspection; that no other state has just such a method. It may be replied that an authority on labor legislation of national reputation who has done more than any other one person to promote wise labor laws iri the United States, declared to the promoters of this bill that if lConnecti- cut could so safeguard the appoint ment of this woman inspector in this way, so as to insure it's being an excel lent one and to keep 1t from deteriorat- ing into a purely political appointment, which might or might not be good one, it would be the most important achievement in legislation for working women for quarter of century. And that other states would follow our ex- ample. To the question why no other state had thought of this metehod, the reply was: Because no one has hap pened to be clever enough to suggest it."
 To the objection why should not the commission of women be considered a purely political one as well, and how can one be sure they will be fitted to make this selection, the reply Is, be- cause the duties will be arduous and without pay, Nand they will be undertaken from motives of philanthropy and public spirit only The difficulty will be rather to find women who will searve on such condi- tions than that numbers of women will be clamoring for the place The very length of office of this commission is settled in the bill as six years each because 1t is felt that when the new member is appointed every two years if two women of the above character are already in, there would be less lia- bility of an incapable third being add ed to their number.
 Factory inspection as a whole and the woman deputy's work Is particular are far more satisfactory prosecuted with the good will and cooperation oi the employers. Previous efforts to ap. point woman factory inspector have been defated because of the opposition of manufacturers who feared that the right kind of a woman would not bt selected and might do harm. The Man. ufacturers' association of Connecticut numbering 450 member support thl: bill as stated by it's counsel, MT Charles E. Gross at the hearing, be cause they believe such a commissoir as proposed, is the best way to obtait such a woman, and because they ar' assured she shall not have to do witt ] machinery. If the commission featurt of the bill is withdrawn the supper and good will of many of these manu facturers will be lacking.
 1 No statute is effectively or really en , forced unless supported by the livel. 2 interest of the community and a sus tained public opinion. The unusual!