New-York tribune., 1912-03-03
PROTECTING THE WORKERS.

While the State Factory investigating
Commission has devoted much Of its pre-
liminary report to the discussion OF fire
protection for factory workers, as was
natural since it was created after the
shocking Asch Building fire. it has done
good service in calling to the attention Of
the Legislature and the public other
factory dangers Graver even than the
fire menace. Diseases bred by peculiG" d"
occupations, dirty workrooms, reeking
with poisonous gases, tenement house
work. in which women, old and young
and children are engaged, slay their
thousands where fires slay their hun
dreds Though less spectacular they are
no less dreadful in their menace to the
community. a menace not confined in its
threat to the individuals directly CON
cerned, but extending TO their posterity.
The problems presented by these phases
Of factory work the commission has en-
deavOred 10 treat, not so much by spe-
cifc recommendation for detailed better
ment as by way of warning and sugges-
tiOn.
Through the various Investigations fol-
lowing the Asch Building fire the pub
lie learned that laws and practical
means for factory inspection as applied
to fire prevention were defective and in
adequate. That matter the commission
was able to meet by recommending the
removal Of conflict Of authority between
state and local officials, the increase and
betterment in grade Of the force of fac.
tory inspectors, the registration Of fac
tories and the enactment of much legis-
lation designed to prevent carelessucss
with lights and the disposal Of infam-
mable waste materials, as well rs meas
ures for the installation Of safety devices
and fire fighting apparatus IN factories.
But how much thought does the public
ordinarily give to the question of sani-
tation in factories? The commission re-
ports that out of 10000 workers Z per
cent were found to be employed in clean,
we'll kept XorkrOoms, 80 per cent I'm
fairly clean rooms, 81 per cent in
dirty rooms and per cent in very dirty
WOIkEOOIlS. Anu
featuring foodstuffs were the dirtiest of
all. The commissions inspectors consid-
cred in their reports the cleanliness of
actual physical surroundings, the sani-
tary conveniences, ventilation and illumi-
nation. As result Of the inspections it
recommends specifically the prohibition in
future of cellar bakeries and the licens-
ing Of all establishments manufacturing
food products, except hotels, restaurants
and boarding houses. If the public can
be induced TO take an interest in the
welfare Of this group Of workers for no
other reason, ii should because Of the di-
rect menace TO health through unclean
foods.
Many suggestions are made by the
commission for remedial legislation re-
garding occupational diseases, the great
problem Of tenement house work with its
accompanying problem Of child labor
within and without the laws. the EN-
ployment Of women In factories for long
hours and under conditions dangerous to
their health and the health Of future
generations and the protection OF foun-
dry employees. Some of them seem ele-
mentary, yet the path OF such legislation
Is never smooth. All OF them are good.
The great value Of these and Of all the