New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-23

thought It likely that the Binghamton
Overall Company plant was one oil
them. although he was not sure with
out looking at the records Of the com
mission. which were not available last
night The first year Of the commits
sion's existence il had jurisdiction over
only first class cities. which did not IN
clude cities the size Of Binghamton.
Mr.. Elkus said the commission, dur
ing it's investigation, met with more
opposition to any kind Of reform IN
the small cities of the state than in
the large ones. lie was OF the opinion
that Binghamton had been one OF the
cities which caused tho commission
trouble in that way. The responsible
;ty for enforcing the fire prevention
laws in Bnghamton and other cities
Of its class. rested upon the State Fire
Marshal. Mr.. Elkus said that the new
Industrial Board of the state Labor
Department probably would begin an
investigation Immediately 20 ascertain
IL there had been criminal negligence.
Difficult to Arouse Interest.
Now IT Is up 10 the District Attor-
ney Of that county 10 prosecute those
who have broken the law" said Mr.
Elkus.
1T is strange thing. but 1t has
been most difficult TO get people in
these cities and towns throughout the
state TO do anything toward fire pre-
vcntion. They have TO be taught, as
we were taught by the horrible Asch
Building fire There has TO be a catas-
trophe before they wake up TO the hor-
ror OF IL all and profit by example"
II appears that the provisions for
fire walls. or some form Of fireproof
construction by which an employee on
any floor may have easy access from
a zone Of danger" in time OF fire to
a zone of safety" on tho same floor
are Incorporated in the structural re-
quirements OF the "anti-crowding" law,
which does not go into effect until next
October.
Mr. EllSus said that these construct
ural changes TO insure safety were
fought bitterly by property owners in
most OF the cities OF the state until
they were finally more or less con-
WINGED that II could be done without
any great outlay OF money. OF course,
I'm new building II will be easy and
comparatively inexpensive to provide
the fire walls at the time of construc-
ton. Because of the persistent OPP
position TO legislation Of this nature.
counsel for the State Factory Investi-
eating Commission said, these bills
were the last TO be drawn and the
longest in getting through the Legis-
lature.
Four Story Building Danger.
Miss Frances Perkins, executive Sec
rotary of the Committee OF Safety. last
night said the Binghamton disaster
was, first OF all, an illustration of the
criminal ignorance which permitted a
clause in recent bill exempting four
story buildings from staircases inclosed
I'm freproof material.
"One OF the best and most carefully
studied regulations OF this bill" said
Miss Perkins, was that requiring the
freproof Enclosure Of stairways. The
exemption clause. however was insert
ed because il was argued that four
story buildings were not dangerous.
The Binghamton factory was four
story one, and the unguarded stairway
acted as a chimney. drawing up
through IL the masses Of flame, which
in turn consumed II and cut off all
hope Of escape for tho unfortunate
worker. The owners Of the building
were not required to take this fire.
proofng precaution, although the omls-
sion Of It was the cause OF all the loss
of life.
Not only through the smaller towns
and cities are these menacing four
story structures to he found, but there
are thousands of them i'm this city,
each one trap for the employees. In
considering this point, let every clti-
zen remember that the Legislature is
still in session and empowered to rec
tify this error"