Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-29

fully gone over and considered in con-
nection with the provisions of the law ne
would make no positive statement re-
garding the responsibility of h labor
department. State Labor Commissioner
Bryant said hat so far as could be
anticipated under the law adequate
protection had been afforded. II, m the
light of Subsequent events, Mr.. Bryant
said, the protection was not adequate
the fault was in the law itself and not
in its administration
The building was last inspected on
September %, 1910. Mr.. Lehlbach
learned, at which time it was reported
that 100 employees were at work there.
Although the new Grand Jury will be
charged with the criminal investiga-
ton of the fatality, the members OF
the present Grand Jury visited the
scene of the disaster yesterday
and made a minute examination
of the ruins, gathering what evidence
was possible to show where the culpa-
bility lay for the loss of life. Thomas
]. D. Smith, the foreman of h Grand
Jury, made the significant comment
after the jurymen had viewed the scene
that the place was not properly sup
pllCQ Will ~ Co1oPCos a. ~
further course the present Grand Jury
would follow he was not prepared to
tate. Although it is thought that If
no indictments are returned. recommen-
dation to it's successors will be made.
They made a thorough investigation
of what is left of the destroyed factory
building. They gathered all the in
formation that could be obtained con-
corning the fire escapes, their number
and how they were disposed. Remarks
passed by the inquisitors in the course
of their inquiry indicated that they
were impressed with the fac that the
means of exit from the building in
case of fire were inadequate.
1t was the general opinion that the
two fire escapes, II on each side of
the building, were far from sufficient
to protect the employees in the face of
such a fire as occurred last Saturday.
There was a spiral stairway in the
centre of the factory which came in
for some criticism. The grand jurors
got the impression that conditions gen.
orally were extremely bad and that
something more than panic was ac-
countable for the large number of ia
~talities.
It is within the province of the grand
jurymen to make a report of the result
of their Investigations to the body that
will succeed them and which will go
further into the details of the disaster.
AS the existing Grand Jury it was
their duty to visit the factory ruins.
1t is possible that some of them may
be witnesses when their successors be-
gin probing the causes of the twenty
three deaths in the fire.
The investigation into the disaster
wi. take a wide scope. 1t will reach
out to the owners of the factory build
ing, to a study of all h laws, city
and State, bearing on protection OF
employees from fire; to the RESPONSE
bility of all officers charged with the
( enforcement of these laws and into
every channel where remissness is sus-
pected.
Attention was called yesterday to the
rigor of the city ordinances on the sub
ject of fire inspection. For instance.
chapter IL of the ordinances of the city
of Newark says:
1T shall be the duty of the said SUI
perintendent of buildings to enforce the
observance of the provisions of these
ordinances which relate to the proven
ton of fires. .
He shall frequently inspect the
dwelling houses, between the hours OF