New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-12
FACTORY OWNERS
in A DILEMMA
Provisions of Law Likely
To Be Changed Beino
Enforced,

The Advisory Council OF Rea' rs"
tate Interests has endeayored sine us
inception to have certain provisions OF
the labor law modified, and has done
all it possibly could to reinforce the
positions taken by its constituent or
carnations, particularly in impresslng
upon public officials and men OF hlgn
authority in administrative circles the
necessity OF complying with the moo
crate ard reasonable requests mace py
INC real estate owners IN TINS partlcu-
lar respect.
Through various sources this mat
ter has recently been brought TO the
attention OF Governor ulynn, ana ne
has been so favorably impressed with
the Justice and reasonsbleness OF tne
claims Of the large property owners o,
New York City that he publicly stated
that those features of the law when
have been somewhat distressing ana
obnoyiouf should be eliminated IN tho
recodifcat;on or be changed in such
manner as not to be hsrasslng IN
their enforcement.
In tho preliminary work attending
the nroposed recodihcaJlon the char
man OF the council has been selected
as member OF the advisory commit
tee of the State Factory Investigating
Commission. and will represent the
council upon three subcommittee o
tbi, advisory body. In addition 1t lS
purposed that the staff OF experts
which is affiliated with the advlsory
council shall cooperate with the state
Factory Investigating Comm ssion III
the work which it is now dong.
However. an anomalous situation mas
been created by the proposed recon
cation of the labor Law, particularly
since the State Factory investigating
Commission has been forced TO realize
that pronertv owners OF New York
have been burdened with excessive and
n,ultifarious legislation. At the recent
meeting of the council many com
rlaints were received from property
owners TO the effect that the LABOR
Department is now enforcing various
provisions Of the present labor law
which NAV be amended. Although
there was no objection whatsoever 10
complying with these orders and regu-
lat;ons. the question arose as TO WnetN-
o. these regulations might not be
changed within the next SIX months,
M rricularlv since the State Factory
investigating Commission itself was
planning 20 propose numoer O.
changes In order to obyiate the DIM
cuIties that might arise from this SIT
nation the council decided TO call tho
attention Of the State Factory Invest.
eating Commission to this condition or
affairs. To be required TO make cN.
pensive alterations or structural
changes in property in accordance WITH
the present labor law and after the
first Of next year to be required 10
modify the changes and alterations
thus made would certainly impose
considerable cost upon property own
ers.
Consequently the council is making
2 strenuous effort to relieve properly
owners from the expense and trouble
that may prevail during the time nc
tween the hearings OF the State rae
tory Investigating Commission and ne
enactmc & of the proposed amendments
20 the labor law. and has written tho
following letter 20 Lieutenant Govern
or Wagner. who is chairman OF the
State Factory Investigating Commi''
sion:
THE Labor Department is at present
enforcing requirements and certain
provisions of the labor law. which may
be rephrased or vitality changed by the
TCCOulHCuAlOu VI WIS 'N''
BY your commission.
at this time il is an unnecessary
hardship and annoyance 10 property
owners 10 be required 10 obey specihc
rules and regulations prescribed By the
labor law. which. If enforced, entail
considerable expense. when the Legs
lature may alter these rules and regu-
lations at its next session, thereby nm
posing entirely different requiem eniS
on property owners than those no"
stipulated.
would it not be expedient. or. as II
seems TO this council. at least adNlsa-
bic, to suspend or hold in allegiance
the operation OF those particular pro-
visions OF the labor law which your
commission contemplates changing. and
which will in all probability be ~
drafted in accordance with your Sus-
gestions? BY adopting this course real
estate owners will be certain that they
will only be amcnablc 10 the law - u
will ultimately be tetned upon he
statute books.
ITO overlook this phase OF the pro-
posed recodifcation of the labor law
will merely intensity an evil now 80
long prevalent namely, the dupicl.
ton OF orders which in this cas-.
would consist in the fact that the resu-
lations of the Labor Department to-day
NAV be completely superseded by
different regulations next year.
"If the Labor Department feels that
il has not the authority to suspend tina
execution e any part Of the law would
II not be well for the department Ia
get the advice OF the Attorney General
on the msttcr"