The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-21
INDUSTRIAL BOARD
SLATE CONFIRMED
Senate Takes Less Than Ten
Minutes to Approve the
Nominations.
OPPOSITION TO LYNCH

ALBANY. March cO.-Al,hough the
nominations for state Industrial Com
missioners were held up two months for
consideration, II took The state Senate
less than ten minutes tonight TO con-
firm all OF the nominations.
This cleared the Governors desk Of
all nominations of any Importance and
changed an atmosphere of anxiety. felt
by the hundreds OF employees under
tho State Industrial Commission, to well
come relief.
The galleries Of the Senate we're
crowded. two-thirds OF the spectators
being attaches OF departments o n
trolled by one or more OF the Industrial
Commissioners.
The only opposition 10 the conirma.
tion OF any one OF the Commissioners
which fringed on the serious was aimed
1T James NJ. Lynch OF Syracuse. Sena-
tor Robert r. Lawson OF Brooklyn, In
whose Senatorial district the Diamond
candy factory fire occurred on Novem-
Der 6 last. whcir twelva lives were lost,
carried out his promise to certain of
his constituents To- oppose the confrma-
ton OF Commissioner Lynch.
Senator Lawson read a speech in
which he reviewed the testimony taken
by the Coroner in the investigation of
the fire and declared Commissioner Lynch
was directly responsible for the lack
Of proper enforcement of the labor law
and industrial code that he was more
solicttous OF his persona welfare than
he was considcrate OF the peoples inter-
esS that he charged the State for
personal items incurred on a trip to
the California exposition. including 10
cents a day carfare for seven days
a week, and that he was unfit generally
for the position OF Industrial Commits.
oioner.
Republican Opposed 20 Lynch,
Senator Elon 4. Brown, the Republi-
a cader ul the :. nate Senator Bur.
linganle OF Brooklyn. Senator Halliday
of Ithaca. Senator Lockwood OF Brook.
Ign, Senator Mills Of Manhattan and
Senator Sage OF Albany. all Republicans
also voted against the confirmation Of
Mr.. Lynch.
Senator Sage insisted that no railroad
company would continue I'm its employ
an engineer VINO ran 10y signals and TN.
dangered the lives of the passengers.
He believed Mr.. Lynch had shown still
greater dereliction in the performance
o. his duty. and for that reason he could
not conscicntiously vote for his retention
In office.
The motion to confirm Mr.. Lynch was
made by Senator Thomas r. Cullen,
Democrat, OF Brooklyn. All the Demo-
Gratis voted for the COMMISSIONS The
vote on COMMISSIONS Lynch was 81 to {.
Sage and Lawson were the only Sem
ators to vote against the confirmation of
Edward L. Lyon OF Brooklyn. Senator's
Mills. Sage and Lawson voted against
the confirmation Of Commissioner Wizard
Senator Lawson was the sole opponent
Of Commissioned William II. Rogers OF
Rochester, and John Mitchell was unani-
mously confirmed.
Senator Sage said It gave him great
pleasure to vote for Mr.. Mitchell, who
continues as chairman of the commits
sion. because he is an honorable and
able gentleman"
With the Industrial Commissioner
now retained in office. II is proposed 10
amend the compensation law. which II
has the duty to enforce. Senator Ar
g%etsinger Of Rochester introduced
these amendments III the Senate TO.
night.
Among the most important changes
proposed are the elimination from the
supervision of the Industrial Commis-
sion OF the State insurance fund and
giving the right TO employers OF the
State TO elect to provide compensation
for their employees. irrespective Of
whether their employments are specified
in the groups covered by the Law or not
n amendment would permit a hotel
or restaurant keeper or "A d~rygoods mer-
chant to secure compensation insurance
for his employees il lie saw fl to dc
70. The State insurance fund IL made
Q State bureau. aloof and independent
of the Industrial Commission. and Is
placed under the supervision of a man.
yer of the State insurance fund. to be
appointed by the Governor al an annua'
salary of $1,000.
The provisions OF the State insurance
law giving the State Insurance Depart
ment supervision over all insurance
companies automatically places that de-
partments protecting wing over th'
State fund, The present ger o!
the State insurance fund is +. Spencer
Baldwin. II ~ understood ne will bs
appointed BY the Governor in the even,
Of the amendments passing the Legisla'
turA.