New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-24
REALTY LEAGUE PROTEST
Wants Appeal Board for the
Fire Prevention Bureau.
MANY "ABSURD" ORDERS
State Factory Investigating
Commission Holds Hearing
on Proposed Laws.

Tie State Factory Investigating COM
mission had hearing on proposed rae
tory legislation In the room of Trial Term
II. of the Supreme Court. yesterday. State
Senator Robert T.. Wagner. of the COM
mission. presided.
Carlisle Norwood, counsel FOR the heaIly
League, voiced the first objection ne
asked for a board of appeal from the VI
ders Of the Bureau of Fire Preventloh'
Irresponsible taxpayers who support inc
government have been hailed INTO t"'
criminal courts because they refused ~
obey absolutely absurd requirements IL
said Mr.. Norwood also asked that own
ers get certificates showing that they HAD
made changes to conform with 'he i""'
and thus he immune from orders OF lu'u'c
commissioners. He said the board Oh
survey was trap" because 1t settieu
questions that ought to be LETT 10 i'il-
partial judges.
I'VE listened TO your attacks on ind!-
yduals." remarked Senator Wagner. L"
like to hear your objections to the pro-
posed laws. I've found the Fire Commits
sloners of this city honorable and eiii-
cicnt men" Mr.. Norwood said he repre-
scented several hundred million dollars In
real estate.
SUPERINTENDENT Miller Of the Bureau or
Buildings approved the measures. Charles
Buck. Of the Realty League, found taul'
with the clause providing for sliding
doors on floors leading to exits Abraham
T. Elkus. counsel for the investigating
committee. said that many ESCAPES led TO
courtyards that-wcre "cul-dc-sacs' in case
Of fire. We've got to change these con-
ditlons,' he said.
John =. Ice. OF the Real Estate own
ers and Builders Association, backed up
Mr. Norwood by saying that he would
prefer trial by jury to the board OF sur
ycv.
The commission has collected sugge5-
tons from all quarters IN regard ta
amendments 10 the labor law. The most
radical change proposed. which the mem
hers OF the commission have not yet ap-
proved, relates to the reorganization OF
tho Department OF Labor An ADVISORY
board OF seven persons, at least ono OF
whom must be a woman. and all appoint
cd by the Governor. has been proposed.
Professional men, employers and en-
ploycs. are TO 30 represented on this
board. Il IL suggested. Terms will vary
from one to five years Tho board IL cree
ated TO protect the health and safety ~
factory employees and hold hearings be-
fore issuing orders. II IS 10 cooperate
In tho same way as other state boards
appointed by the Governor
An amendment I'm relation 10 hours OF
labor OF minors and women has been
discuss ed by the commission and will be
acted on later. The present law reads:
NO female minor under the age OF
twenty -one years and no woman shall be
employed or permitted 20 work In any
factory in this state before o'clock IN
tho morning or after o'clock In thu
evening az any day. or more than SIX
days or nfty-four hours IN any ono week.
except a. hereinafter provided The
amendment would strike out the word
'woman" from tho sentence and add this
provision:
And in order 10 protect the health
and morals % females employed In fac
tories by providing am adequate period
of rest at night no woman shall be en-
ployed or permitted 10 work In any fac
tory before o'clock In the morning or
after 10 o'clock IN the evening OF any day,
or more than six days or ilfty-tour hours
ln any one week"