WASH ROOM, DRESSING ROOM, REST ROOM, LUNCH ROOM, ETC., ACCOMMODATIONS-GEORGIA.

As shown by the table, none of the 27 establishments had lunch rooms. Two factories, both under the same management, served hot soup and crackers at noon from a kettle in the hall, and were planning to have regular lunch rooms installed. In most of the other establishments the employees went home for meals, but in 2 factories, a candy and a cracker factory, respectively, the employees brought their lunches to the factory and ate at their work places, on the stairways, and at other places.

One establishment provided ice water during 8 months of the year.

FLORIDA.

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION.1

Seats for female employees are required in mercantile and “other business pursuits." There is no legislation regarding any of the other topics covered in this chapter-water-closets, wash rooms, dressing rooms, lunch rooms, rest rooms, or drinking water.

The requirement of seats for females is in the following terms:2

If any merchant, storekeeper, employer of male or female clerks, salesmen, cash boys or cash girls, or other assistants in mercantile or other business pursuits requiring such employees to stand or walk during their active duties neglect to furnish, at their own cost or expense, suitable chairs, stools, or sliding seats attached to the counters or walls for the use of such employees when not engaged in their active work and not required to be on their feet in the proper performance of their several duties, or refuse to permit their said employees to make reasonable use of said seats during business hours

1 The law here referred to is as in force at the time of the investigation, March, 1909. The text of the laws in force Jan. 1, 1912, is given in the appendixes at the end of this volume.

Gen. Stat., 1906, sec. 3235 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, p. 281).

for the purposes of necessary rest and where such use will not interfere with humane or reasonable requirements of their employment, he shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 60 days.

This provision is generally supposed to have been aimed at the department stores, and no officials make any attempt to enforce it in the case of manufacturing establishments. It would appear, however, that the phrase "other business pursuits," which occurs in the enumeration of places to which the law is to apply is sufficiently broad in its meaning to include factories and workshops.

The law regarding seats for females is not charged to any special body for enforcement. There is no organized factory-inspection service in the State.

CONDITIONS FOUND.

The following tables summarize the conditions found in the 14 establishments visited as regards water-closet accommodations, washing facilities, etc. Twelve of the 14 establishments were cigar factories. As most of these cigar factories were located in residential districts, with the employees living near by, the demand for certain conveniences in the factory, such as lunch rooms, was limited.

WATER-CLOSET ACCOMMODATIONS—FLORIDA.

WASH ROOM, DRESSING ROOM, REST ROOM, LUNCH ROOM, ETC., ACCOMMODATIONS— FLORIDA.

Water closets, wash rooms, and dressing rooms are required in manufacturing and mercantile establishments in which 5 or more young persons or women are employed. Seats for females are required in all manufacturing and mercantile establishments. Lunch rooms, rest rooms, and drinking water are not referred to in the State law."

The legal provisions regarding water-closets, wash rooms, and dressing rooms are as follows: $

* * *

Every factory, mill, manufacturing establishment, workshop, warehouse, mercantile establishment [packing house, etc.] in which 5 or more young persons or women are employed and every such institution in which 2 or more children, young persons, or women are employed

Shall be supplied with proper wash and dressing rooms,

And kept in a cleanly state and free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy, or other nuisance,

And shall be provided, within reasonable access, with a sufficient number of proper water-closets or privies for the reasonable use of the persons employed,

And at least 1 of such closets shall be provided for each 25 persons employed,

1 The law here referred to is as in force at the time of the investigation, March, 1909. The text of the laws in force Jan. 1, 1912, is given in the appendixes at the end of this volume.

2 There is no special legislation regarding tenement shops or bakeries or other foodproducing establishments.

Acts of 1908, act No. 301, sec. 14 (Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 85, pp. 599, 600). See also Acts of 1906, act No. 34, sec. 4 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, p. 522).

And wherever 2 or more persons and 1 or more female persons are employed as aforesaid, a sufficient number of separate and distinct water-closets, earth closets, or privies shall be provided for the use of each sex and plainly so designated,

And no person shall be allowed to use any such closet or privy assigned to persons of the other sex,

And said closets or privies shall not be locked during working hours.

Penalty.-$25 to $50, or imprisonment 10 to 30 days, or both. Thus, as regards wash rooms and dressing rooms, the law says simply that they must be "proper." The factory inspector of New Orleans does not require wash rooms to be "rooms" as such, but accepts sinks and similar facilities located in the workrooms as fulfilling the intention of the law, if such facilities are sufficient in number. In the matter of dressing rooms, however, the inspector insists that they be separated from the workrooms by substantial partitions. No information upon these subjects is available for the remainder of the State, as, at the time of this investigation, the organized factory inspection service was limited to the city of New Orleans.

The legislation regarding water-closets is much more specific than that regarding wash rooms and dressing rooms. It is required broadly that water-closets shall be "proper"; but in addition it is specified that closets shall be reasonable of access, separate for the sexes, with a plain designation to that effect, and of sufficient number to allow at least 1 accommodation for each 25 persons. Among the States now being considered the further requirement that closets shall not be locked during working hours is peculiar to the law of Louisiana.

The factory inspector of New Orleans stated that the law regarding water-closets was not being strictly enforced at the present time, as a new underground sewer system was being installed in the city, and it would be inconsiderate to ask manufacturers to improve toilet arrangements until they were able to make connections with the new sewer system.

The legal provision concerning seats for females is that

* * *

Every person who shall employ any female in any factory, mill, warehouse, manufacturing establishment, workshop, or store [packing house, etc.] shall provide suitable seats, chairs, or benches for the use of the females so employed, which shall be so placed as to be accessible to said employees,

And shall permit the use of such seats, chairs, or benches by them when they are not necessarily engaged in the active duties for which they are employed,

And there shall be provided at least 1 chair to every 3 females.

Penalty.-$25 to $50, or 10 to 30 days' imprisonment, or both. The distinctive feature of this law is the requirement that there shall be at least 1 seat for each 3 females employed. As applied to all

1 Acts of 1908, act No. 301, sec. 13 (Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 85, p. 599). See also Acts of 1900, act No. 55, sec. 1; and Acts of 1906, act No. 34, sec. 3 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, pp. 518, 522).

classes of establishments, the ratio of 1 seat to 3 persons is, of course, entirely arbitrary. It is interesting, however, as being, among the States now being considered, the only attempt to establish such a standard by law.

The enforcement of the factory-inspection laws of Louisiana is intrusted to locally appointed factory inspectors. 1

CONDITIONS FOUND.

The two following tables summarize the conditions found in the 29 visited establishments as regards water-closet accommodations, washing facilities, etc.:

WATER-CLOSET ACCOMMODATIONS-LOUISIANA.

WASH ROOM, DRESSING ROOM, REST ROOM, LUNCH ROOM, ETC., ACCOMMODATIONS

1 Acts of 1906, act No. 34, sec. 6 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, p. 523), and Acts of 1908, act No. 301, sec. 23 (Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 85, p. 601).

One establishment not reported.

For females only, in one establishment.

49450°-S. Doc. 645, 61-2, vol 19-28