Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-19
new LAWS AID TO
FACTORY WORKER
Wash House Act Gives Workers In iii.
nOis Place to Clean Up After
Days Toll.
CHILD LABOR is ON THE WANE
Factory Inspector Tells of Progress in
Department That Enforces Vel.
fare Statutes.

Progress Of the Illinois department
Of factory inspection in the last year
Is outlined in a report to Governor
Dunno as being: New legislation pass
ed on the recommendation of the gov
ernor, and the following new activities
in the work of the inspection depart
ment:
Opening of an occupational disease
clinic for free examination of cases
suspecting signs Of industrial poison
ing.
Publication of annual reports de-
scribing the work of this department
by appropriate articles illustrated by
photographs and drawings.
Special ventilation inspection in
factories, especially in crowded gar
ment shops.
Compulsory reporting of the issu-
ance OF working permits to children
so that the factory inspector may have
a correct record of all children en-
poyed.
Opening of a course of instructions
10 teach the inspectors the correct in
depreciation of the laws and the new
methods in the field of safety, hygiene
and sanitation.
Proper enforcemens of all laws and
better compliance by reason of due re-
spect for this office having been Gre
ated among employers
Increase in Inspections.
The factory inspectors report shows
that during the last two years in the
enforcement of all laws, 54,S41 more
inspections, or an increase of GA per
cent we're made than during the pre-
Ceding two-year period. The figures
further state that the number of con-
yictions was nearly doubled, which
proves that the inspections were of
more thorough type. The fines, which
are annually turned into the public
school fund. amounted to $4,000, ex-
ceeding those previously collected by
$4,000 That the inspectors were kept
constantly Ion the go" is shown by the
fact that 431 towns were visited as
against only 176 during the previous
two years.
Law Keeps Workers Clean.
Two of the ten laws enforced by this
department, the popularity styled
wash house law and the basement
law" were enacted last year. The
wash house act provides for ade-
quately heated wash rooms containing
sanitary washing facilities and lockers
in such employments where the work
men become covered with grease dust
and CRIME. The results obtained by
enforcing this law tell story of real
human interest. The workman re-
turns to his home in a clean and tidy
condition. and insists upon the same
condition among the members of his
family
During an investigation of the large
steel mills in Chicago the opinion pre-
vailed among employees that this law
was a blessing. Employers state
ments lead the department to estimate
that over 81 800 900 has been expended
IOF WaSnlng 1acllltleS since the law
became effective. The basement law"
which went into effect July l, 1915 pro-
hibits the use of Easements for all
trades creating dust, fumes and va
pors.
Child Labor OH Wane.
As better results are obtained by
this department, additional happiness
is brought to every working man
woman and child The statistics re-
late that in the enforcement of the
child labor law" the number Of in
spections exceeded the previous two
year period by 24,2SS. So far as fig
ures can show. child labor in our in
dustries is on the decrease. Two years