Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-03
SUGGESTS LAW TO
MINIMIZE PERIL
Of FIRE HORRORS


lation SO 1t will be impossible FOR a re-
c%urrence of such a disaster.
In discussing the question Of fire pro-
lection. the commissioner says:
Outside ~fre-escapes when used on
either new or old buildings should be
constructed, where the character of the
building will permit, On the straight
run principle similar to the usual stair
ways. with easy rises and treads.
Suitable handrails should be required,
and wherever practicable the steps
should be continued to. the ground. In
all cases the method of reaching the
ground from the lower balcony. where
the steps cannot be continued, should
be by means of suitable balanced steps,
or q LADDER working automatically
when sufficient weight Is placed there
on. II the drop ladders, as at present
constructed, were hung within the
stair well Of the first balcony in a
horizontal position by means of an s
hook fastened to the rail of the bal
cony they would be much easier to
handle in case Of emergency.
~"Fire-escapes should be required of
sufficient width, and where the charac-
ter of a building makes necessary the
erection of an escape with one balcony
over the other, the stairway should be
protected by grill work In addition to
the usual handrail. Plans for all fire.
escapes should be approved by the
commissioner of labor before erection.
"All entrances to fire-escapes should
Ia I.r =, IN ~ q AP d,@-c x~eFo.o H., e-s
on a level with the floor, and where
possible the doors should slide. Where
fre-escapes have already been erected
1t might be thought satisfactory II win
dows opening on the balconies were re-
placed by doors.
To Notify Commissioner.
IAN amendment should be made to
the present law requiring suitable pro-
lection in factory buildings having less
than twenty-five operatives above the
second floor, and In some cases this
might be extended to include factories
having only W. floors. All owners.
agents or lessees of factory buildings
should be required to notify the COM
missioner of labor of any partitions
which are constructed In factories
owned or occupied by them or coming
under their charge.
"A minimum number of Horoscopes
should be specified for all factories
more than two stories In height, and
the power to order such additional pro-
lection as the conditions Of each fac
tory make necessary should be lodged
in the commissioner of labor. He should
also have the authority to order ad-
ditional inside stairs. handrails, new
floors and treads on stairways, to cover
openings. and 10 make minor altera-
tions in the construction of factory
buildings. Some provision should be
made to compel necessary repairs to
factory buildings when their conditions
arc such as to be a menace to the
safety of operatives therein"
Commissioner Bryant points out that
the present conflict between the child
labor law and that portion of the
school law relating to compulsory at
tendance has prevented the full COOP
Grafton between the department and
the school authorities which he re-
CARDS as desirable.
Commissioner Bryant believes that
should be specified by law, and no
child should be permitted to work in
a factory unless this educational re-
ouirement has been attained. With
that end In view he suggests that q
certificate from the educational au-
thorities should be a prerequisite to
the issuing of working papers. He
would give the Department of Labor