The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-07

The report of Secretary johnson in
part was as follows:
For the last II years the forces of
the State Society of Labor have grown
from small nucleus up to its present
standing the prestige, and when we
compare the fact that while the bureau
of labor is 25 years old this year, the
first half of the life under the political
system mad seen no advancement; no
increase or improvement in either
numbers, forces or appropriations to
carry on the good work of labor that
there was to do. But during the past
II years we have seen the personnel in
crease from two to eight persons, and
fitting appropriations made to carry out
the splendid work it has undertaken.
Legislation.
1--WE have seen legislative enactments
granted at the behest of labor, which
have widened the scope of the bureau
and had for their purpose the i'm
provement of the industrial conditions,
and the protection of the interests of
the laboring classes. Each biennial
period has given to labor, at the hands
OF our legislature, increased recogni-
ton in legislative matters, until. at the
present time, we count more than 40
labor laws as a result of the energy
and cooperation of our State Society
of Labor through its legislative COM
mittee. Previous to the last legisla-
ture we announced that we expected
to ask for and to receive additional
help in the matter of an additional
deputy factory inspector, and chief
clerk in the statistical bureau, as well
as amendments to the child labor law.
1t is a matter Of pleasure to be able
! to report that we have secured this
legislation, and have added two more
members to our force, from the ranks
legislation, especially to the depart
| ment, was a law providing for the re-
porting of all accidents due to defects
and faults in the operation of machine
ry or other Industrial equipment. Three
hundred and twenty-six serious acct
dents have been reported during the
six months in which the law has been
in operation, effecting $40 injured per
sons, and which reports have aided
materially in arriving at the causes of
such accidents. and enabling recon-
mendations to be made to prevent a
repetition thereof.
THE neutrality-suspicious. and fire
escape law, making the commissioner,
ex- officio, state superintendent of in
spection, and bringing under the scope
of factory inspection the work of the
inspection of fire escapes and means
of egress in a very large class of three
story buildings, all of the fire mar
shals, city or town marShals in nearly
! 500 cities in the state, and requiring
| of each of them a report as to the
| condition of the buildings in their
! cities. This one law has nearly dou-
b1ed the work of the department, re-
curing examination of the plans and
| specifications for such escapes and
the making of recommendations
| thereon, in accordance with the law,
as this law applies to every build
ing now or hereafter used, in whole
or in part, as public building, pub
| lie or private institution, office build
ing, church, theater, public hall, place
of assemblage, or place of public re-
sort, or tenement house, manufactur-
! ing establishment, dormitories, SEM
inaries, hospitals and asylums three
or more stories in height, and all
school houses two or more stories in
| height It is estimated on a very
conservative basis, that about ST.
| 100000, will be expended in the cree
ton of fire escapes, and securing
| proper means of egress for the safety
of the lives of men, women and child
| rem in this state.
Fire Escape Law.
J Some of the more important items