Evening journal., 1915-02-09
Continued From Page 8.


1ence inspired by knowledge OF the
fact that the sheaves, cables, counter
weights and the automatic stops nave
been inspected and tested by one VINO
knows wherefore he does it and VINO
is fully cognizant of the dangers that
are possible should he fail or neglect
70 do so. We feel further secure III
knowing that the closest Inspection
has been given TO the engines, pumps
motors and other transmission ma
chinery which are now an indispeh-
sable adjunct to the safety and COM
fort of the dwellers OF modern Once
buildings. We know that the children
at school are perfectly safe from the
danger of incompetency and inefhcien-
CIV on the part of the person who looks
after the heating. lighting and ventil-
ating Of the modern schoOlhouse; that
the schools have been subjected TO
the most rigid examinations, both IN
tcrnally and externally before they
were prepared and steamed up for the
season. and that everything possible
has been done to insure tho fullest
measure OF safety to our charges.
The best steam boiler ever MADE can
be exploded few hours after inspec-
ton by an incompetent attendant, and.
as a rule. the better tho boiler the
more destructible the explosion. The
pcoplc have a right to know and 10
feel that the boilers over which they
walk and about which they work are
I'm safe hands. and legislation to this
effect is fully as imperative as legis-
lation recurring doctors. lawyers.
L.
etc. TO be inspected as TO their ablllty
before being allowed TO practice.
An ignorant man IN charge OF
steam plant can inhict more damage
upon the public in ten minutes than
Quack doctor can in 4 lifetime. VIC
make a man show his license before
trusting him to pull a tooth, and put
our lives unquestioningly into the
hands OF men who know far less OF
the staining structures under their
charge than the meancst charletan
docs of the human frame.
n you go TO a doctor. or lawyer,
or dentist YOU have moi only the as
sure of the state that he has under
gone a course Of training and proven
himself on examination to be compct-
Ont and qualified. but you have tho
privilege Of making your own selec-
ton. and deciding for yourself 10
which of the many available profes
sionals you will cntrust your inter
csts. You invoke not only the assul
ance of the State but the reputation of
the man, the testimony of others
as TO his skill and ability etc. But
so far as exposure to risk from steam
plant accidents is concerned nearly
every person who lives in a civilized
community where steam power is
used. necessarily. unquestiOningly and
often unknowngly IS constantly plac-
ing himself within range of possible
death or mutilation from this cause
In a large city with steam heating
electric lighting and power elevators
so common almost every business
building has one or more boilers often
located under sidewalks. We cannot
so TO our business. our wives canno'
go shopping or to a place OF public
entertainment without being. most ol
the time. within range Of steam
boiler. and with no knowledge as tc
whether the boiler is 81 to run or un-
der charge of proper attendant
Every man who registers at hOtc
boilers under him will not go off while
he Is asleep. and law which provides
him with that assurance is no mor'
class legislation than is thc law re
uuiring a license 10 keep and sell guI
powder.
To the employer il means an incon
tive 10 economy and the highest or
der of efficiency. That all valves, anC
! n. mil
be kept tight and free from leakage
that piston-rOds and pump plunger'
will be packed regularly so as to pro
ducc maximum Of efficiency with {
minimum expenditure Of energy. tina
the boilers and appurtenances will b'
cleaned and tested at proper inter
walls; that the boiler tubes will no
only be blown. but thoroughly scrape'
as occasion may require; that Tn
feed water heater will be kept cleal
and free from distractions that retari
efficiency: that the engines will b.
periodically indicated; that the gen
orators will be maintained in prope
conditions; that the switchboard tn
heating system and other indispen
sable factors of the modern plant vii
be kept in first class order.
The employers Of engineers usual
ly oppose the passage of license an
inspection laws on general principle
as being in the nature of labor legisla
tion. like cight-hour laws. etc. Thi
ic an unwarranted assumption. TIL
law is demanded for the public safot
and is, as a matter of fact, more j
the interest of the manufacturer tha
fhe engineer II will Interfere wit
no employer who is not employing an
trusting his life and property and tn
lives of his employees to man who
dangerously ignorant, careless or in
temperate. If q manufacturer is en-
plOying such a man is il not bette
for his own interest that he be con
PEELED to replace him with safe
one; and by what logic do manufa'
turers oppose law which will d'
tcrmne and compel this? Certainl
as class they do not employ unsai
men knowingly. Why then shOul
they fear and oppose a law which wi
interfere only with those who do. an
would by examining and licensing IL
man in charge of their plant give the
the States assurance for his abilii
and reliability. No decided stiflenin
of wages has ever followed upon q
passage of one of these laws. but thel
has been an immediate imprOvemel
in the grade of engineers not alone
the wedding out of the incompetent
but by the self-improvement of Il
class in their efforts to prepare then
selves for passing the examination. Il
teiligcnce in an engineer has d