J." W. KNAUB, present Chief Inspector of the Department of Workshops and Factories, was born in New Holland, Yory County, Pa., April 2, 1833, learned the trade of iron moulding at Wrightsville, in the same county, and removed to Dayton, Ohio, August, 6, 1856, of which city he has been a resident ever since. Appointed to the office of Chief Inspector of the Department of Workshops and Factories, December 7, 1893, by Governor McKinley, to fill an unexpired term. Previous to Mr. Knaub's appointment, a vacancy of six months existed in which there was no regularly appointed Chief, but by the request of Governor McKinley, Captain E. M. Slack, Chief Clerk, had charge of the department as acting chief, which duties he performed in a manner creditable to himself as well as to the department. J. W. Knaub was reappointed to succeed himself by Governor Bushnell April 29, 1897. The work of the department during the incumbency of the present chief has been greatly increased by new laws which imposed additional duties; such as the blower law, which requires the placing of exhaust systems to carry away dust from dust creating machinery; the bakeshop law, which compels good sanitary conditions in bakeshops; the sweatshop law, specifying in what kind of building and under what conditions clothing and cigars may be manufactured; the law requiring low water alarms to be placed on all stationary steam boilers. The law on public The Inspector of Workshops and Factories. buildings, etc., was also amended so as to include many buildings not previously mentioned. The department originated from the urgent appeals of organized labor throughout the state to the General Assembly, and its purpose is to save life and limb by ordering safe-guards to be thrown around all dangerous machinery and looking after sanitary conditions in workshops and factories and ordering fire escapes on such shops where necessary, and causing all owners of buildings used for the assemblage of people to supply them with proper means of egress and fire protection. The act of 1884 creating the Department of Workshops and Factories, provided for the appointment of one inspector by the governor, but did not specify the term of office or make any provisions for office room. Henry Dorn, of Cleveland, was appointed Inspector, and entered on the duties of his office April 14, 1884, establishing headquarters at Cleveand. April 29, 1885, the act was amended creating the office of Chief Inspector, and providing for the appointment of three District Inspectors, and locating the department in the State Capitol. Henry Dorn was appointed Chief Inspector, serving from April 29, 1885, to April 29, 1889. W. Z. McDonald, of Akron, was appointed Chief Inspector April 29, 1889, and served one full term to April 29, 1893. March 23, 1892, the law was amended empowering the chief inspector to appoint eight additional District Inspectors. Mr. McDonald was reappointed for a second term and served until June 12, 1893, when removed. E. M. Slack, of Columbus, the chief clerk, was placed in charge of the department, as acting Chief Inspector, June 12, 1893, and served until December 7, 1893, in that capacity. J. W. Knaub, of Dayton, was appointed Chief Inspector to fill the vacancy occasioned by removal of W. Z. McDonald, December 7, 1893, and served until April 29, 1897, reappointed for a term of four years, term ending April 29, 1901. April 27, 1896, a law was enacted providing for the inspection of bakeshops and empowering the Chief Inspector to appoint two Bakeshop Inspectors, making total number of District Inspectors thirteen. The act creating and governing the department makes it the duty of the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint the Chief Inspector, whose term is four years. The act also empowers the Chief Inspector, with the approval of the Governor, to appoint all District Inspectors, whose term of office is three years. It is the duty of the Chief Inspector to give his entire time and attention to the duties of his office, to direct and supervise the work of his District Inspectors and to make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the law, as will be for the best interest of the service. The Inspector of Workshops and Factories. It is the duty of the District Inspectors to give their entire time and attention to the duties of their office; to visit all shops and factories in their respective districts; to inspect all manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, mercantile art and laundrying establishments, printing, telegraph and telephone offices, railroad depots, hotels, memorial buildings, tenement and apartment houses, halls, school houses, colleges, academies, seminaries, churches, theatres, opera houses, hospitals, medical institutes, asylums, infirmaries, sanitariums and childrens' homes, for which purpose the State is divided up into eleven inspection districts, equalized as near as possible. It is the duty of the two Bakeshop Inspectors to inspect all bakeshops in the state, as to their sanitary condition, etc., the state being divided into two districts for that purpose, known as the Northern and Southern. The present working force now consists of one Chief Inspector, eleven District Inspectors, two Bakeshop Inspectors and four clerks, as follows: The Inspector of Workshops and Factories. NAMES OF DISTRICT INSPECTORS FROM THE TIME THE ACT WAS AMENDED CREATING SUCH OFFICE UP TO THE PRESENT TIME AND GIVING TERM OF SERVICE OF EACH. 1 Name. Residence. Term of Office. May 13, 1885, to Sept. 15, 1886. June 1, 1892, to Hay 1, 1896. Nov. 23, 1892; term ends May 1, 1902. May 1, 1899; term ends May 1, 1902. May 1, 1896; term ends May 1, 1902. L EWIS C. LAYLIN, Secretary of State, was born in Norwalk, Huron county, September 28, 1848. He graduated from Norwalk high school in 1867. In 1869 he was elected to the superintendency of the Bellevue public schools, to which position he was unanimously re-elected for six successive years. He began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar March 13, 1876. He was city clerk of Norwalk two years; a member of the Huron county board of school examiners twelve years; and president of the Norwalk city board of examiners three years. In 1879 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Huron county, and held that office seven years. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1887, and served in the House of the 68th General Assembly. In 1889 he was re-elected representative, and served through the 69th General Assembly. He was the choice of his Republican colleagues in the House for the speakership, and received the unanimous support of the Republican minority. In 1891 he was unanimously renominated by the Republicans of Huron county for representative, and was again re-elected. On January 4, 1892, he was chosen speaker of the House of Representatives of the 70th General Assembly. On April 25, 1900, at the state convention of the Republican party he was nominated by acclamation as the candidate. of his party for the office of Secretary of State, and at the following November election he was elected to that office by a plurality of 69,311 votes. On January 14, 1901, he entered upon the discharge of his duties for the full term of two years to which he had been elected. |