Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-05
GENERAL BRYANT
TREATS OF FIRE.
LAWS AND RULES
State Labor Commissioner
Points Out the Limits of
His Jurisdiction.
NO RESPONSIBILITY OVER
MECHANIC ST. BUILDING
Structure Had Ceased TO Be a
Factory, He Writes, and There
fore Out of His Line.

In a long communication TO the
Evening Star, Lewis T. Bryant, State
commissioner of labor, writing from
Atlantic City, discusses the recent
fire in East Mechanic street, this city,
i last Thursday, which resulted in the
deaths of a man and a young woman,
describes laws bearing upon fire pro-
lection and fire prevention, draws
comparisons, and in general covers
the whole subject of fires.
The commissioner points out that
, his department had no jurisdiction
over the East Mechanic street build
ing at the time of the fire, as 1t was
not occupied as factory
It would seem that a factory" as
defined, leaves the question one OF
grave doubt, for with the State de-
partment having no jurisdiction and
the local authorities without ade-
quate power of control and regula-
/ ton, serious situation is revealed,
SO far az the city of Newark is con-
cerned. 1t is not a matter of pass
ing the buck" whatever that may
mean. It is a grave proposition,
affecting the safety Of human life.
| In his letter Commissioner Bryant
says:
| Commissioner Bryant's Letter.
| During the month OF November,
| 1910, the High street. fire occurred,
and it was followed in the late win
ter or early spring by the Asch build
| ing fire in New York city. AS a re-
suit of the High street fire the pres
| ent fire protection law, known as the
Balentine act, was drafted in a man
J ner calculated to prevent another
| tragedy Of that character. With the
| additional example of the New YORK
| fire the bill was passed unanimously
without amendment.
| .This law was conceived with the
idea of providing a full measure Of
protection to operatives employed IN
| factory buildings, which are spectfi-
cally designed as places where goods
are snade or manufactured
| aNo thought was given 70. those
j employed in warehouses, ofifce build
! iugs. mercantile establishments
hotels, public halls or the number OF
other buildings equally as hazardous.
This action is quite characteristic OF
! the American people, and followed
| the same action taken by Ohio after
the Collingswood school disaster, when
schools were amply protected, but
| factory buildings were not Included.
! After the Iroquois Theatre fire IN
| Chicago the whole country turned It's
attention to safeguarding theatres.
'The New Jersey fire protection law
for factories is probably as drastic
| legislation OF it's kind as exists liz this
country or abroad including the ap-
nroyal by the commissioner of labor
| of plans for new factory buildings
or alterations to old buildings, in order
| 10 see that the provisions of the law
| will be followed in construction. The
correction Of old buildings to the emo
! tbat thew will be provided with ade-
! ouate egFEsses by suitable stairways,
| towers or fire-escapes, including the
| fireproofing OF all doors or windows
opening thereon. An electric system
az alarms and fire drills must also be
provided.
Law General in Terms.
.The law covering these provisions
is quite general in terms, and the
standards and working specifications
/ had to be established by the depart
ment of labor. This task, together
with the much .widened scope of the
work. virtually swamped the availa-
ble force and made necessary the ap-
| pointnent of number of additional
| assistants. Six new inspectors were
added during the summer OF 1911, and
an appropriation was made during
| fine Legislature of 1912 for the em-
| pIoyrnent Of expert assistance in the
! engineering branches and to helr
| with the office work.
"a few weeks after the passage OF
the fire-protection law an INSPECTION
was made Of the warehouse building