New-York tribune., 1913-07-27
LAWS INVITE HUNDREDS
Of FACTORY DISASTERS
State Inspector SWearS Bing-
hamtOn Plant Had CON-
piled with Statutes.
STRINGENT REFORM SOUGHT
Wagner Commission Plans De-
mand for Sprinklers and
Inclosed Stairways at
Earliest Moment.

fFrom STAFF Correspondent Of The Tribune
Rircbamton, n. Y, July 26.-District
Attorney Frederick j. Meagher in exam
lining Frank S Nash at the Coroner's In
quest there brought out that in the opin-
,on Of the State Factory Inspector. based
on twenty years service in the Labor
Tepartment. the overall factory in which
forty persons were killed here Tuesday
complied with the law, and that the
laws. as they stood at present afforded
no protection against a similar disaster
,ip hundreds OF places in the state.
Neagher and his assistant, George +.
iC'Neil. are now convinced that the in
curry will do nothing more than TO lay
hare all the facts in the tragedy. They
are doubtful whether criminal RESPONSE
ibility can be definitely fastened upon any
one. The inquest will be continued on
tuesday.
The representatives Of the Wagner
state factory investigating commission
heft here after the session to-day.
III Is expected that 3. L. Shientag. coun-
ssel 10 the commission, will prepared a
treport on the Binghamton fire which will
Recommend that the laws passed last
winter, some Of which do not take effect
until October, shall be made more strin-
bgent
II the commission meets in Albany
lnext week, as is now planned II is under
tetood that its members will prepare rec
Iommendations for amendments TO the
laws TO provide for automatic sprinklers
and freproof inclosed stairways on all
factories more than two stories in
height. These recommendations Will
probably be referred 10 Governor Sulzer
with suggestion that he send an emer-
igency message 70 the Legislature when
lit convenes after recess on August H.
because the Legislature cannot take up
lany matters at an extra session without
'an emergency message.
Hose Not Even Suggested.
Inspector Nashs evidence was largely
corroborative Of that given yesterday by
Reed b. Freeman, the factory owner.
Nash testified he thought the one fire
escape adequate for such a factory and
had never suggested other measures 10
his superiors in the Labor Department
He was willing 10 admit that another
fire escape on the other end of the build
ing would have saved several lives. He
had never spoken to Freeman about the
advisability Of installing automatic
sprinklers. chemical extinguishers or
ven a length of hose.
He admitted that even the one fire
escape that the factory had did not meet
all the requirements Of the labor laws,
.ut pointed out that the Labor Commits
sioner was empowered 10 accept and
improve" fire escapes of different pat
terms. This one had been accepted years
ago Nash said. It's peculiar danger was
that the steps OF the slanting ladder
we're made OF two iron bars about four
inches apart. At this point Earl Bush.
a worker in a garage backing upon the
factory, testified that he had seen sew
eral girls whose feet were caught be-
tween these two bars Bush rescued two
girls from the second floor fire escape
landing.
There are a number Of other buildings
practically the same as regards physical
condition and the number Of occupants
eight here in Binghamton," said Nash
which have Just one fire escape, and
here are hundreds throughout the state
This place complied with the law. but
he present law could not prevent a rep
stition OF this disaster"
No instructions from Albany.
Are you going 10 order additional fire
escapes for these places in Bingham
tom" the District Attorney asked.
Il think l ought TO-" Nash answered
slowly, "in view Of what has happened,
but there have been no orders come from
the Labor Department to Binghamton
since the fire"
Mrs Margaret Whitney, whose story OF
circumstances indicating that the fire
had smouldered in tho cellar for an hour
before It burst through TO the upper
floors was told in The Tribune this
morning, repeated IT on the witness
stand to-day.
Emmanuel Horowitz, who was q sweep
er in the factory a year ago, testified
that the waste clippings accumulated In
the cellar a month at time before
being carried away by the ragman. He
was asked about the transfer OF some
OF the girls from the third to the fourth
floor
The stitchers used to be on the third
floor" he said. but Mr.. Freeman said
Il cost too much to have the operators
on two different floors, 80 he put all the