New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-11
FACTORY PROBE BEGINS
Ex-Chief Croker Advocates Fire
Towers and Barring of Matches.
CHIEF NEEDS MORE POWER
Woman Testifes to Unsanitary
Conditions in Human Hair
Goods" Factories.

The New York State Factory Investiga-
ton Commission. authorized by the lasI
Legislature. following the disastrous Asch
Building fire in this city began its pubic
hearings Yesterday with view TO taking
such testimony as will aid II TO draw mp
remedial legislation to be presented TO the
next Legislature.
The law creating the commission provides
II shall report to the Legislature before
February 70. 1912 on the following general
conditions:
First Hazard 10 If, because Of fire. Gov
ering such matters Is FIRE prevention IN
ADEQUATE fire escapes anC exits Eumoer OF
persons employed i'm factories and lotts'
arrangement Of machinery. flre drlll. &c.
Second CCident prevention. Guarding OF
machinery. proper and adequate Inspection
Of factories and manufacturing establish
ments. o., .
Of unsanitary conditions. ventilation, Hgnt-
ing, seating arrangements hours OF laooi'
etc ,.-tt
consumption, lead poisoning bone disease
etc
Fifth-An examination IF the present
statutes and ordinances that deal WIN OF
relate to the foregoing matters. ana -
what extent the present laws are enforced.
In his opening address Abram l. ElkuS
counsel 10 the commission, said the inVes-
ticators would confne themselves primary
10 the first subdivision-that IS. 10 inVesu-
eating the danger 70 life because OF hre II
factories and manufacturing establish
ments-hut would take as much testimon'
as POSSIBLE in the time AZ their disposal
concerning the other divisions Of their WlrN
as outlined above.
Former Fire Chief Croker took the stand
first and advocated fire towers as the only
reliable means Of escape from factory
buildings when fire broke out, and rule
forbiddin- employees I'm such places ~ carry
matches. as one Of tho best means Of pre-
vention that could be enforced.
Let the factories take the course the
department stores have done" sa.d the *
chief THE largest stores refuse 10 ad-
nit an emrIoyo with a match on HIS per-
son"
CHIEF Croker declared that employees IN
factory buildings were VIGOROUSLY nesli-
gent particularly as TO the cleaning up Of
rubbish. refuse and debris from the prod
nets they were manufacturing That con-
diuon. BE- thought obtained tn almost every
line o. manufacturing. and he advocaieI
more police power for the Ff-e Commits
sfoner as tie best means Of controlling H.
As he has testified before. particularly
az the legislative investigation Of the hre
| insurance field. Mr.. Croker said yesterday
that he believed the FIRE chief should have
1.-THE power o. close a building when the
owner disrecarded his orders for safety APP
plances Of any kind Further. the eX-
chief thought that imprisonment was none
too severe a penalty FOR owners who dis
regarded such orders from the fire chleL
/ Mr.. Croker ascribed the Asch Building nre
/ e. a carelessly thrown cigarette.
At the afternoon session. which was held
! I'm a courtroom Of the Supreme Court. Miss
| T.eouora O'ReiIly. Of the WoIans Trad"
Union League and other feminine civic
bodies. testified ir detail as 10 the condi.
lions of factories which manufactured "hr-
man hair goods" as she had found them
I in an inspection trip made within the last
two weeks.
Taking as an example one factory In
lfarrin street. near Delaney street. Miss
O.Reilv pictured a room about % hy 30
feet full of an odorirerous powder in
which the raw product imported chiefly
from China. is packed. its floor strewn With
debris o., hair and dust, with an open fire
on crate AZ o-e side over which boiled
pots Of water for cleaning the hair and
other pots ~ Hl-smellug dyes-uffs. The
workers were mostly girls she eaid. MANY
Of item having all the appearance OF being
under the legal age and as no retiring
rooms Of any kind We're provided for them.
/ they 1te their Wncheous al their work Ia
/ h,ss.