New-York tribune., 1913-07-25
COMMITTEE ON SAFETY
SENDS APPEAL TO SULzER
Urges IncIosed StairWays for
Factories of Four Stories p
or Less.
ASKS SPECIAL MESSAGE
Murphy Angrily Replies to Gov.
ernor's Charge That Tam.
many Was to Blame for
Binghamton Horror.

The Committee on Safety OF the CITY
! of New York, through it's executive secre.
| tary, Miss Frances Perkins, issued an
urgent call to the press and public yes
terday for support in obtaining an
amendment TO the labor law recently
passed, which failed to provide for in.
closed fireproof stairways in factory
buildings of four stories or less. MIss
| Perkins sent the following telegram to
| Governor Sulzer:
THE Binghamton fire calls attention
to- the fact that in the factory fire bills
passed by the last Legislature there is a
clause exempung four story buildings
from the requirement to inclose stair.
ways in fireproof partitions. The loss OF
life at Binghamton could have been large
ly prevented II the stairway had been so
safeguarded. The exemption is proved
unsafe. VIII you send a special message
to the Legislature asking that It amend
the labor law so as to correct that error
while there is still time? The Commit
tee on Safety asks this as means OF
preventing another fire disaster In New
York State"
1t Is the intention OF the committee 70
send several of its members TO Albany
to lay the amendment before the Gov
ernor personally prior TO the reconyenins
of the Legislature on August IL. A special
committee will appear later before the
legislative committee. which may have
the matter in hand. The plan OF the
safety committee may include local mass
meetings 10 arouse public sentiment.
Sees Much Danger Here.
Miss Perkins said yesterday that despite
all the interest in fire protection and FIRE
prevention since the Asch Building FIRE
two years ago, there were still hundreds
of buildings In this city which are In
such condition that a repetition OF the
Triangle fire or the Binghamton disaster
might take place at any time.
ION the lower East Side and the lower
West Side OF New York City" she said.
there are hundreds Of old buildings four,
five and six stories in height. OF the same
construction as the Binghamton building,
frequently with uninclosed stalrways, or
else with stairways inclosed in fiimsy
wooden or inflammable partitions These
buildings are commonly used for clothing
]
dustries. People working in such fac
tories as these are constantly In danger
The Binghamton fire has shown what
could happen in a we'll conducted factory.
These four, five or six story build
ings in this city are for the most part
poorly conducted factories, and the dan
ger is double
The report yesterday of Miss Sidney
Kohlsaat, special investigator OF the
Binghamton fire for the Committee on
Safety. pointed out that the Bingha nton
factory appeared to be a particularly we'll
conducted plant in conformance with the
existing laws, but emphasized that the
lack OF inclosed stairways. or a fire wall,
or more fire escapes. was chiehy response
| Bile for the large loss Of life.
SuIrer Stirs Murphy.
Acting Chief Guerin Of the Bureau OF
| Fire Prevention began rigid inspection
of all factories i'm this city yesterday as
= result of the Binghamton disaster
was said at Fire Headquarters that Chiei
| Guerin, with an experienced squad OF men,
would visit the factories without INFORM
| ing the owners Of their coming 50 tna'
there would be no preparation in antcips-
tion Of the inspection squad. Particular
attention would be given to the enforce
ment OF the law prohibiting smoking IN
factories and the perfection Of the hrs
| drill, II was said.
Charles +. Murphy declared yesterday
| that Governor Suffers charge that Ne
Murphy, was indirectly responsible io'
the loss. of life at the BinShamton nre oy
blockins the confirmation OF a LaOor
| Commissioner in the Legislature was
"pure nonsense" The Governor aSSsr'eo
that the failure by "Murphy's Senate Z"
confirm the appointment Of a Labor Conl-
missioner was responsible for the dlsoF'
sanitation Of the Labor Department ana
the consequent non-enforeement OF tn'
hre inspection laws
That's nonsense" said Murphy 'sns-
mccnely. II will have nothing 10 sa! "
such a statement as that l don't in'ehu
10 answer such silly accusations OF 'no
| Governor. have answered the s''doAo
the Governor has made on me ana nav
requested him to reply TO me. lie hasn