Evening journal., 1911-04-24
URGE GOVERNOR
TO SIGN BILL
Consumers League Thinks
Protest Against Inspector
Clause Should Not Stand
SAYS BILL works
WELL OUT In OHIO

The Consumers League of Della
ware, last Saturday sent to Governor
Pennewill the following letter urging
that he sign the woman's Factory
bill.
Wilmington, Del. April 20, 1911.
Hon. Simeon S. Pennewill,
Dear Sir AS there seems to be
little or no open objection to any
clauses in the Womens Factory In
spection bill except TO Sections II
and IL, we desire to emphasize the
points brought out in the Red Cross
meeting of last Saturday evening, in
the City Hall.
The objection made by Mr.. Bancroft
that Section II was confused, impos-
sible TO obey. etc, would seem entire
ly met by the fact that the same sec
ton, in the Ohio Factory Inspection
Law of 1908, has worked we'll in Ohio
factories. Machinery has the same
parts and properties in Ohio as In
Delaware, and the theoretical objec-
tion of Mr.. Bancroft, who has never
seen the law tried, should not count
alongside of the practical fact that 1t
does work in Ohio, and has not bank
rupted business prosperity in that
busy manufacturing State.
Mr.. Birds remarks about the only
woman in the State qualified to Judge,
who objected to the bill, have been
sufficiently met since by the fact that
this very woman has written you
personal letter approving of the bill,
and urging its signature.
Mr.. Warner, from experience of ma
chinery, asserted that Section II
could be easily enforced, except in
the doubtful case, perhaps, of friction
clutches. where the benefit of the
doubt could easily be given by the
inspector.
It was clearly brought out that
Section - required no drastic meas
ures whatever. left a great deal 20
the discretion of the Inspector even
on the few points specified in Section
II. and gave her no right Of inter-
ference with machinery outside Of
these specified points, all of which
were simple and easily understood,
even by one Ignorant of the more
complicated details Of machinery.
The Consumers League. as you will
see from the report of the meeting,
has offered to submit any questions
in dispute as 10 the enforcement Of
the law to a commission Of nine on
which the employers shall have a
majority The league is further will
ing to submit any question concern
ing the machinery clauses to a dis
interested mechanical engineer.
AS the other provisions of the bill
contain much valuable safeguarding
Of Delaware working women in sani-
tarv ways. and as the Legislature,
without dissenting vote, passed this
bill. we ask that you should not al
low a protest (Which can thus be
shown not to be unanswerable)
against Sections II and -. to weigh
greatly against the whole of the bill,
which even its opponents concede 70
be good as regards sanitary regula-
tion. A surface inspection of indus
trial plants cannot show their real
conditions. The fact that a business
firm objects to an inspector, Is far
more significant on the other side.
The more the bill is discussed, the
more its moderation and the large eN-
.emptions it makes come to hght.
Manufacturers from other industrial
. States wonder at the objections made
80 it. We would call your attention
10 the fact that Mr.. Bancroft himself
has two factory inspectors and a so
cial secretary already, so that he rec
ognizes the need of inspection. He
gets his inspection, in this way, out
side Of this bill. but other plants
have no such safeguards.
The Legislature, with its Whining
ton members, has protected women
by this bill, as far as 1t can go IN the
making of law. IF you do not COM
plete the work, what answer can you
give in the case of the next girl in
fected with tuberculosis, caught IN
machinery, or burned in fire trap
The responsibility Of her death or. in
Jury will be your responsibility, II
CONTINUED on Second Page)