working people, and consists of the encouragement of thrift and the development of the ambition and honor of all the employees. All reports agree in praising the new economical institution. A system created of workingmen receives their confidence, and, stimulating friendly communication with employers, establishes a mutual support which cannot exist when the employer enters only into business relations with his employees. Certainly it cannot be out of place for such a body as ours to rejoice at every step of progress which secures intelligent appreciation and support of our work as factory inspectors; and it seems to me that an organization established for the purposes above mentioned is a near approach to the solution of the industrial problem which continually confronts us in the great contest between capital and labor. The following letter, from Chief Inspector Geo. W. Ford of Tennessee, was read and ordered to be printed with the proceedings of the convention. FACTORY INSPECTOR'S OFFICE, Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 10, 1891. JOHN FRANEY, Vice-President International Factory Inspector's Association, Cleveland, Ohio. I was in hopes I could attend the session of the factory inspectors, to be held in Cleveland this week, but the recent trouble among the coal miners in this State has caused me to give up my trip to Cleveland. I have to start in the morning to inspect the coal mines where the trouble was, and after the inspection is over I may have to apply to the court for an injunction to prohibit the working of the mine until the operators comply with the laws on the subject of running mines, so that you can see I have as much as I can attend to here at home. I regret it very much, as I had anticipated a mentally profitable and pleasant time at Cleveland, but duty before pleasure. Please convey my regrets to all friends at the convention, and I will try to be at the next session, if possible. Wishing all a pleasant time and a profitable session, I remain respectfully yours, GEORGE W. FORD, Chief Inspector. Secretary asked what number of the proceedings should be printed. On motion, 1,000 were ordered: Massachusetts, 200; New York, 100; Pennsylvania, 200; Connecticut, 50; Minnesota, 50; Ohio, 150; New Jersey, 100; Province of Quebec, 25. Inspector Davis of Ohio offered the following motion: that a committee of one from each State represented in this association be appointed to draft a constitution for the government of this association, and to report at the next annual gathering. Carried. Committee: McDonald of Ohio, Simmons of Connecticut, O'Rielly of Pennsylvania, Coe of New York, Mullen of Massachusetts, Casserly of Minnesota, and Fell of New Jersey. Inspector Davis of Ohio offered the following resolution : Resolved, That we recommend to the various legislatures and parliaments in the States and Provinces of North America, the enactment of laws requiring the examination of engineers of stationary engines and tenders of steam boilers, by competent officers. Carried. Inspectress Miss O'Rielly of Pennsylvania offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That, in recognition of the more than generous as well as kindly treatment shown the International Association of Factory Inspectors by the Press of Cleveland, we, the constituents of said body, tender our unanimous as well as grateful thanks for privileges enjoyed, realizing the great good that it will do in advancing the cause for which we are assembled; and further Resolved, That this convention tender its grateful appreciation to the acting mayor for his address of welcome; also to the honorable members of the city council for the kindly hospitality manifest in the privilege of using their council chamber during our deliberations in this their beautiful city; also to the manager of the Jacobs Theatre, and to the auxiliary fire department, for pains taken to entertain the delegates; and, last but not least, to the inspection department of Ohio, for their efforts to make comfortable and care for the wants of the visiting delegates. The International Association of Factory Inspectors of North America, in its fifth annual convention assembled, view with extreme gratification and hearty approval the progress made by the respective States here represented in the enactment of factory or industrial laws which, while imposing additional duties on us as inspectors, have afforded greater latitude for operation, and provided for the more effectual prosecution of the beneficent provisions of such legislation. We recognize, in connection with our labors, a growing disposition among employers to conform to the spirit and intention of the factory laws, and the commendable humane effort on the part of so many to provide for the physical comfort and the mental improvement of their employees beyond what the State requires of them. We are justly proud of the work accomplished through factory legislation for the amelioration of the condition of working people, and the influences wielded thereby for promoting the best interests of society. In consideration of what has been achieved in that direction, we commend to the attention of the people of the United States and Canada the necessity of adopting a system of factory inspection in every State and Province, and to the States and Provinces here represented we suggest the wisdom of additional legislation, as follows: CHILD LABOR. Resolved, That stringent laws be enacted governing the employment of children in the various States, prohibiting the employment of children under fourteen years of age, and especially to abolish the employment of children under sixteen years of age at any occupation whereby their lives and limbs may be endangered, their health injured, or whereby their morals may be depraved in such employment. COMPULSORY EDUCATION. We advocate laws that will discriminate compulsory education, coupled with a thorough system of manual training in every community, for all children between eight and fourteen years, and providing for the maintenance of indigent orphans and impoverished children, whose earnings might be needed to support themselves or aged and infirm parents, by the State. HOURS OF LABOR FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. We recommend legislation regulating the hours of labor of women and children under the ages of eighteen years, restricting such employment so as not to exceed ten hours per day, aggregating not to exceed fifty hours per week, thus providing for a weekly Saturday half-holiday; and we are decidedly opposed to the employment of women and children under eighteen years between the hours of nine P.M. and six A.M. MACHINERY AND BUILDINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED. We recommend the passage of the most stringent laws providing for the proper guarding of machinery, and establishing a thorough inspection of all buildings wherein people are employed. Recognizing the dangers connected with the operation of elevators, hoistways, etc., we believe it necessary for the public safety that laws be enacted governing the construction of elevators to the extent of insuring perfect construction and their safe operation, and providing that the inspectors shall have power to condemn their use when on inspection they have been found to be deranged or defective, and requiring that all well-holes or elevator shafts shall be surrounded with a brick wall from the basement to the roof, and that no elevator should be constructed when not supplied with two or more lifting ropes, and provided with an efficient safety-catch operated by means of a counterpoise weight. SANITATION, ETC. We recommend laws requiring a perfect hygienic condition in all industrial establishments and public buildings, and we insist on separate and distinct toilet and dressing rooms where women are employed. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. We recommend the enactment of laws in each State prohibiting the erection of dangerous buildings for public use, requiring a 100 National Convention of Factory Inspectors. thorough inspection of all public buildings, and providing that the plans and specifications for their erection shall be submitted to some competent State authority for approval before being executed. JOHN FRANEY (New York), F. J. CASSERLY (Minnesota), Committee. After a brief discussion, the resolutions were unanimously adopted. Inspectress Miss O'Rielly of Pennsylvania moved that, in consideration of the faithful manner in which Secretary Mullen had performed his duties, the convention recognize the fact by a standing vote. Carried. There being no further business, the convention, at 12.30 P.M., adjourned, sine die. 14 RUFUS R. WADE, Attest: ISAAC S. MULLEN, Secretary. m President. |