The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-13
USE WOMEN TO
Do. NIGHT WORK
Utica Textile Miller Admits sex
pertinent" Has Proven a
Business" Success.
PERFORM DUTIES MEN
FIND TOO IRKSoME
Factories Not Inspected and Not
Fireproof Among Other
Revelations.

Utica, n. Y. Dec. 12-As an expert
ment." women are used at night work in
Utica's textile works doing toll that men
find too irksome. This was brought out
during the testimony of one of the en-
plOyers, Francis X. Herman. before the
State factory commission to-day. The
women, Herman said, are used in winding
the immense spooIs. Men decline to stick
to 1t and don't do the work half so well
as the women.
From the looks OF it. then. the 'eX-
pertinent is panning out quite well"
suggested Counsel Shintag.
The women are steadier.' assented
Herman.
Don't you think the State ought to
step in and stop this experimenting with
!. the women"
Il don't think so. sir" was the reply
ply.
You think, from the viewpoint of the
women, that it is all right?' insisted the
lawyer.
WELL I try TO look At it from the
standpoint of the women" was the fall
wrong to have its women work at night,
then the State ought to say So.
State May Interfere.
Commissioner Phillips said that in the
commissions investigations elsewhere 1t
had been found that the women work
against their inclination. and the posi-
ton Of the commission is that the State
ought to step in and prevent their work
ing. IF they cannot find the way out
themselves, the State will have 10 save
them" added Mr.. Phillips.
The commissioner spoke of some mar
ried women preferring night work. SO
their husbands, while at home, may tend
the babies.
But what kind of life do they get
out OF It? 1t is against every law Of
decenCy to allow this to go on
From Kernan's evidence it developed
that approximately $500 women are held
down to night work in the Utica shops.
They get from s. to 80 a week for it,
They are obliged to report at o'clock
at night and work clear through until
s O'Clock in the morning. with an hour
for midnight meal Throughout the
long hours OF the night they are COM
PEELED to stand at the whirring spools
and keep them fed 1t is oppressive
work that wears down their nerves. that
makes those who try 10 do it give up
in despair.
Europe Ahead of United states.
The men do it only half as we'll" was
the way Herman put 1t. They can't
make over IS a week"
Europe is way ahead OF this coun-
try in its treatment OF the working
women" declared Commissioner Jack
son. I'VE are far behind the times in
this country. hut If our Legislature can
be prevailed upon to pass the laws we
are framing New York State will take
an advanced step
Herman raised objections TO several
bills proposed by the commission. He
didn't approve the fiTe-escape provisions.
They were too drastic. The law contem-
plating fire-prOofng of stairways he re-
garded as revolutionary.
Let me tell you he protested, that
not one factory in Utica is OF fre-proof
construction"
What exclaimed Commissioner Tier
ney. DO you mean that
Precisely was the reply but the
insurance companies regard our factories
as good risks
Factories Not Inspected.
William L. Stechel. inspector of build
ings Of Utica, amazed the commission
when he admitted that. although he has
been in his official job for eleven months,
he has not inspected one factory. He
said he left the factory inspection TO
his assistant, William J. James.
Called TO the stand. James said that
he never went inside a factory and that
no inspection of the Utica factories IS
made
The buildings in which thousands OF
men and women work may he, unsafe, yet
you don't inspect them demanded
Commissioner Jackson.
I'VE don't have time" replied James.
The commission completed its special
investigation with to-day's session. 1t
meets next Monday in New York for
its wind-up before reporting to the
Legislature.
Shoots Husband; Kills Herself.
Marian. Ohio, Dec. le.-Mrs. Dora
Starkey shot her husband. Milan Starkey,