Evening journal., 1911-04-17
Bancroft Company Objects
TO Woman's Right TO De-
clare Machinery
Dangerous
FELS BELIEVES
BILL IS GOOD ONE


at the City Hall under the auspices of
the Delaware Red Cross Society 20
discuss the bill passed by the Legis-
lature and awaiting the Governors ac-
ton TO regulate the hours OF employ
ment Of women and to provide for a
woman factory inspector to be ap-
pointed by the State judiciary Dr.
Peter w. Tomlinson presided and
Miss Emily p. Bissell was secretary.
The court room was filled with men
and women. Samuel Fels, a manufac-
turer of Philadelphia Assistant Dis
trict Attorney James B. Reynolds. Of
New York city. and Miss Margaret
Shearman OF this CITY, were the prin-
cipal speakers in behalf of the bill.
and John Bancroft and John b. Bird.
Of Joseph Bancroft and Sons Com
pany, spoke against certain phases of
the bill, particularly that which gives
women factory inspector the right
| to declare dangerous machinery that
! I'm her opinion is dangerous in plants
employing women and to put such
machinery out of service. Mr.. Ban
croft and Mr. Bird pointed out that
there is no appeal from the ruling of
the woman factory inspector in such
cases. but Mr.. Reynolds said recourse
could be had to injunction proceed
ings if the ruling was unjust
Miss Shearman said the Consumers
League, which had drafted the bill.
has made to the manufacturers a
proposition that disagreements be-
tween the woman factory inspector
and the manufacturers should be sub
mitted to a board Of nine persons, ive
of them to be named by the manufac-
turers and -four by the Consumers
League. 1T is this proposal we made
TO the Governor when we asked for
his signature TO this bill, and It is
this proposal we submit TO this public
meeting, hoping you will endorse our
position and will give us your hearty
help" said Miss Shearman. "lf the
Governor does not sign this bill, for
two years the health. sanitation and
moral welfare of some $4,000 OF our
working women will have no protec-
tion and no help I'm cases where
health and protection are very much
needed" She asked all in favor OF
the bill to telegraph or write to Gov
ernor Pennewill urging him to sign It
Four Questions Submitted.
General Charles Bird. president O
the Red Cross Society, was unable
to be present, and Governor Penne
will sent letter saying he could no
be present, but asking that he D
furnished with a copy of the proceed
ings. General Bird sent four ques
. tions 70 the meeting which he de
sired discussed, but only two Of theI
were taken up. The questions we.
as follows: First. Are Wilmington
business buildings properly equippe
with fire exits? Second, Are ther
conditions I'm Wilmington factOrie
which conduce to tuberculosis? Thir'
Why are not factory accidents re
ported in Delaware? Fourth, VIII th
lives and health of Delaware work
ing women be better safeguarded wit
, or without a factory inspection law
The first two questions were dis
cussed.
Building Inspector John J. Cassid,
explained the provisions of law regu
lating fire escapes, and Miss Shear
man said the provisions of the pend
ing bill would doubly safeguard tn
lives of working women by giving tn
woman factory inspector power to Sc
that sufficient means of egress wer
provided. Mr.. Reynolds and Mr.. Eel
emphasized the importance Of mr.
drills in industrial establishments.
J Regarding the second question
Miss Shearman said the provisions 70
proper sanitation, ventilation, ant
adequate air space per employe wer
included TO safeguard the health o
employees
Miss Anna S. Bird asked what o
the provisions Of section II, giving th
woman inspector the right to declar
machinery dangerous, seemed to b.
unreasonable.
] Mr.. Bancroft Opposes.
John Bancroft at this juncture sal,
he did not recall any urgent public
sentiment for such a bill as tina
under consideration. He thought th'
bill full of Inconsistencies and in
: congruities. 1T would simply pro
= duce a controversy between the fac
tory inspector and the employer h
) said. L won't dispute for a minut
: the advantages 10 the manufacture
! and the employe of an intelligent ant
p competent factory inspector. even If
/ woman, but do not believe that an.
r person receiving a salary of only S15
a year could go into factory con
I tanning hundreds Of thousands of dol
r lars worth of machinery and tell ther
what they want IF you could procur
I one for $500 a year he would be O
i, some use"
/ Charles w. Bush read Section IL Q
the bill.
l Mr. Bancroft pointed out that tn
D bill did not provide for an appea
y from the decision of the woman fac
tory Inspector "Who is going q
l settle the question" he asked. "Be
p fore you put a bill of this kind int
y effect there should be Labor Com
q mission or a Board Of Labor Com
:. missioners to whom some appea
. could be made"
John B. Bird supplemented MI
Bancroft's remarks, and pointed ou
how difficult it would be to get
7 woman factory inspector at the salar,
\ provided who would be competent 4
pass upon machinery.
q Mr. Bush asked II other States hav
\ factory inspectors, and Mr.. Reynold