New-York tribune., 1911-04-05
COMMITTEES ON FIRE
PERIL COME TOGETHER
Merged Into New Body That Will
Form Permanent Organization
to Prevent Disaster.
TO KEEP CONSTANT WATCH
Close Supervision of Factories
One Feature of the Plan
Workers Asked to De-
scribe Conditions.

1uate fire protection for the workers in
this city as outlined in The Tribune. re-
ceived substantial impetus yesterday
afternoon at conference of some Of the
best known social workers ard civic
leaders in the city at the United Chari-
ties Building, which resulted In the
adoption of plans for the formation Of a
permanent committee on the Prevention
Of Fire Disa ster
Robert w De Forest. president Of the
Charity Organization Society, as chair
man of the meeting. appointed 2 COM
mittec of five, consisting OF r. Fulton
Cutting, Homer Folks, Franklin Z. Kirk
bride. Leopold Plaut and John A. Kings
bury. to carry out these plans. The
committee was further empowered TO
formulate plan for the organization
of an association 10 be incorporated
under the laws of this state. or other
wise as the committee shall recommend.
with proper officers, the object Of which
association shall be to provide FOR con-
stant supervision OF all places in which
labor is engaged, or other places in which
large numbers Of persons cOngregate
and with the further object OF procur-
ing such legislation or remedies as the
disclosure of the conditions resulting
from such supervision may outline.
The committee Of five. appointed by
Eugene y. Philbin, after tho mass meet
ing at the Metropolitan Opera House,
Sunday, later attended the conference,
and the two committees were merged
into committee of eleven, with Dr. Ed
ward T. Devine az chairman. to carry
out the general purposes OF the meeting
\ tentative plan of campaign for the new
association was presented at the meeting
by Mr.. Kingsbury who is the general
agent for the Association for Improving
the Condition Of the Poor. which is ex-
for April II.
The new association will be able to
proceed Immediately with its campaign
The plan of campaign as presented yes
S1J,WD, Of which $1,000 is already
guaranteed Mr.. Cutting. who is in the
South. sent telegram to the meeting
announcing that he would guarantee the
expenses of the organization up to $40
00O, depending on the committee to raise
the money and relieve him OF the respon-
sibility.
Questions Asked Of Workers.
A circular Incorporating a long list of
pertinent questions in regard to fire pre-
vention conditions in factories has been
distributed broadcast to workers by
committee of members of the Women's &
Trade Union League. consisting of Mrs
Beard Mrs. Olleshemer. Miss O'Reilly
Miss Rau and Mrs. Stephen s Wise
Hundreds Of answers have already been
received. The questions and statements
compiled from some OF tho replies are
as follows:
If you do not want 20 be burned alive
and perish in factories and stores. notice
the condition In your factory or store when
you go to work tomorrow and write the
answers 10 the following questions
Name of your factory.
Number and street OF your factory.
What is your trade?
How many floors in your building
ON which floor DO YOU work?
How many people in your room?
How many windows in your room?
Are windows barred or nailed down?
Are doors locked during working hours?
Do doors open in or out?
How many fire escapes are there
Are they In q" front!
How many StaircaScS?
Are they in rear or front!
Are staircases wood iron or stone?
Is the way to fire escapes clear OF OBJ
structed?
Are halls dark or lighted?
Please state below anything else YOU
wish to say about bad conditions in your
factory unsanitary or dangerous. when
YOU have not mentioned above.
Send slip to any member Of the com
mittee of Five on Complaints at tie Wom-
en'e Trade Union League. No. s. East I'd
street ANY communication will he regard
Cd confideniially.
Among the complaints which have al
ready reached the committee with rel
orence to conditions I'm workshops and fac-
tories are the following typical answers
briefly stated:
/ Elevators do not run after 3 y. IN.
, Factories full Of infammable material.
, Emploves all worried. now hope for
Gas stoves and ruching material side
by side. ,.,,o
J. Boxes. glue, fire. all on one tapl"'
6 Narrow stairways
, Water supply cut off.
Machines so close together We can't
move our chairs
q Rickety stairways.
n No possible chance 10 reach other
buildings in case Of fire.
II Eleven floors; one passenger elevator
no fire escape. ,a, ,,i,,. o;,b
fire escape. . ,,,r;
motor I'm next room:
II only door exit always blocked by
- TWENTY-FIVE girls in room loxl1. on
Broadway. -,.,.. ,o,ui,, on
doors. a place Of sickness.
II Elevator always stuck. seven Ho"fs
,o be cleared I'm fire. ...,
IS Stairs SO narrow only one person can
use 'rniIinr broken and fun Of reaches;
III" % !" When doing night work doors are
,octad. elevators not running.
o. Doors closed with iron bars during
working hours ,.,u,,u
y Iialls so dark we would all die III
case Of fire. -, ,a,, 49,.
a. Our chairs are d,e,cnIsS 80 c,Hse together We
o. ,Of a building ten floors highD THeIe 2
are escape, stairs very narrow; II
.borc ~ IL ever fire. God help u.s.
oe Elevators break down every da!' no
u,-ht I'm our halls.
badN G,r factory has sixty-ivc operators
doors are locked; there IL one OBJ
lhis,c'cd lhc fire escape. one dark. narrow
wooden staircase ana one passenger eie-
VIZ which holds seven persons.
narrow for more IMAM one