The Washington times., 1912-06-06
FACTORY INSPECTION
PRINCIPAL SUBJECT
+. BEFORE CONVENTION
National Association Dis
cusses Cooperation With
| Bureau of Labor.

The problem of obtaining efficient fac
tory inspection in States where appro-
priations are small was the center OF
attention at the session of the National
! Association of Factory Inspectors to-
day. Cooperation with the Federal
Bureau of Labor, and with agents of
| liability insurance companies was sug-
gested as a partial remedy.
g. E. Warren, factory inspector OF
Oklahoma, read paper showing con-
ditions in his State are such that CO.
operation with liability insurance agents
is necessary IL the State official is to
keep himself informed as to conditions
over the entire State. He said there
had been some criticism of this plan,
but that he saw nothing wrong in it or
anything against the public interest.
G. w. W. Hanger, statistician of the
Bureau of Labor, presented a plan for
cooperation with the various State in
spectors with a view to the spreading
, of information and the forming of model
reports. Edmond Brown suggested that
committee be appointed to gather in
formation on the sufficiency of exist
ing State laws with view to drafting
model labor and factory reports.
/ Edison Lott, of the United States
Casualty Company, said he believed the
suggested cooperation was valuable
He said also that he favored co-opera-
ton among casualty agents and uni
formity of rates on equal risks, but
that cooperation of this sort was likely
to be construed as a violation of the
Sherman act and the cooperating
agents might find themselves in Jail.
He denied a report in a morning pa
per that he was opposed to workmen's s
compensation laws as opposed to en-
ployers' liability measures. He said
that he had been in communication
with every State commission studying
the subject, and that he favored work.
mems compensation acts to such a de-
gree that he hoped they might eventu-
ally work to such perfection that liza
bility would be unnecessary.
Regarding the attitude of some en-
ployers that they need not guard thdr
machinery to save workman from in
jury after they have bought insurance
to cover such losses. Lott said that the
employer who thought the insurance
company pays such claims is entirely
mistaken.
"The insurance company pays moth
Ing; 1t Is the insured who pays. And
II the insurance company is bright the
insured not only pays the losses, but a
little more besides
Miss Julia C. Lathrop, chief of the
children bureau, will be asked to ad-
dress the factory inspectors before
their sessions close.
Eome irritation was displayed this
mornings because of the red hot argu-
ment yesterday afternoon on the sub
ject of employing child actors The
of the convention. and the debate,
which consumed much time, was staged
for. the benefit of the inspectors with
out them having direct interest in the
matter
The election of officers may be reached
this afternoon. 1t Is the practice Of the
association to continue officers, except.
ing the secretary, in office for more
than one year. Therefore, 1t is able
that Edgar Davies, of Illinois, now pres
ident, will be succeeded by some one
else. John Whaleen, chief factory in.
spector of New York, Is considered the
strongest candidate for the place, al
though there is no particular effort or
the part of any of the men to get the
place.
During the morning session George l.
Mclean, of Connecticut presented a pa
per on the problems that confront the
factory inspector. He inveighed agains
the practice of women's clubs making
complaints before they look up the law
to see whether the official has any au'
thority to correct the evils of which
they complain.
The child actor discussion yesterday
afternoon was carried on chiefly be
tween Dr. A, J. Mckelway, who be
llieved that children should be In school
and Lignon Johnson, who took the posi-
ton that the child actor learns as mucf
on the stage as in school. excepting
from his Endorsement of child actors
however the young acrobat, singer, ant
trick performer
A resolution favoring the workmen'
compensation act now before Congress
was passed yesterday afternoon.