Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-19

Recognition of the fact that the aa-
ministration and enforcement OIL LABOR
laws involve much more than mere
system of detecting violations OF law
ia Incoming more and more apparent
in efforts for the protection OF the
working classes. The establishment
of definite rules and standards Tor the
safety and health of workers, hlgnef
Capitalization of the functions OF m
snectors and the creation in a num-
her Of states of Industrial commas
sions with large powers are mdlca-
tions of the progress made. In view
of the attention the subject Is recelV-
ing in our own country the eXpeii eiiC0
of foreign countries in the aoinlilis-
tration of labor laws ana lactory ~
snection is of peculiar interest ana a
sayor+ on This subject, covering Great
Rritain. Germany, France, Austria,
Switzerland and Belgium, which mas
inst been published as Bulletin NO.
5a9 of the United States bureau OF
labor statistics of the Department OF
Labor is both timely and INSTRUCTIVE.
In the countries named labor laws
date hack to the beginning OF the
nineteenth century, but the nrsI
measures for their enforcement were
NOT passed until 1888, when Factory
inspectlon was established In Eng
land, while similar action was hot
taken elsewhere until 1874, Wnen
France created a labor inspection de-
nartment. followed by Switzerland IN
| 1877, Germany in 1873, AusCrla III 1000
and Belgium in 1888.
While experience has SHOWN thdt
labor laws without provisions for en-
forcement are practically futlie S1s
protective measures, emphasis must
also he placed upon the importance OF
| ef3ciency in the administrative ma
chinery its scope and functions, Its
| methods of work, the character OF It's
| personnel and the provision OF aenillle
| standards as to safety ana sam
| In only one of these phases OF ADMIN
| istratiye work was marked superior
| inv found In the countries visited as
| compared with the United States.
| This was in the training and charac-
| ter of the inspectorial force. In
Europe the position of factory inspec-
| tor can be secured only after long
| technical training and severe tests'
| The oocupation is classed as a pro-
feesion. ranking with law, medicine
and engineering. Tenure or once is
secure and pensions are given for long
service and old age. Men VINO seek
| these DOSlIlOnS ID VI S4NSNP
character and attainments ana thelI
work is corresponjingly efficient.
In France and Belgium the whole
work of labor-law enforcement Ii
conferred in the labor inspection de
nartment. but in England the loca
authorities have jurisdiction over thu
enforcement of all sanitary provisions
In workshops, In Germany the fac
torv laws are administered by the in
dustrial inspectors, inspectors or IN
surance associations, and police au
thorfties, and in Austria by the INDUS
trial inspectors and the local INDUS
trial authorities In switzerland ther
Is a division of jurisdiction between
the Federal factory inspectors and tn
cantonal inspectors, while the enforce
nent of the laws Is entirely in tn
hands of the local police and tn
fcantonal authorities.
Medical factory inspection is still
an undeveloped field, England an
Belgium being the only countries hav
ing separate medical divisions, an
even there the number of physician
is small.
Women inspectors number twent
In England, where they occupy tn
unique position of being practieaH
independent in their work and func
tons. France has eighteen wome
inspectors, Austria five, Belgium one
Prussia and Switzerland none, an
the German States but few. Outsid
of England the work of women in
spectors is limited to small shop
where women and children are EN-
ployed.
There is a great demand among tn
Iaboring classes for workingmen in
spectors This has met with consid
cradle opposition from some of tn
governments, as well as from regula