Document Kz73Y42DXZQBJOgLv2yq49NvK

Chicago, November 16, 1937 Ur. H. fl, Yoorbeeai Lost week Ur. C. L, Brockett of the Rock Island called me and said that the Rock Island bad received a request from Dr. U. H. Kronenberg of the Illinois Department of Health for permission for bis representative to go throne)' the roundhouses and shops of the Rock Island to make an Inspection relating to health conditions. He wanted to knovi If I, as chairman of the railroads committee handling matters misting to the proposed Occupational Diseases Act, knew anything about Dr. Xronen'berg and whet be proposed to do with tbe information he was aeeklng. At the time I was unable to give him any Information as I thought all sattere relating to sanitation and health were being handled by tbe Division ot Factory Inspection* Yesterday I met with tbe employers' Group of the advisory committee to the Illinois Industrial Commission, of wbioh Ur. O. E. Mount of the American Steel Foundries Is chalnasn. Ur. Mount advised me that Dr. Kronenberg Is heed of a unit of the Illinois Department of Health that la working at tbe University of Illinois In conjunction with tbe 'Department of labor, and le endeavoring to develop information relating to health condi tions In manufacturing and other plants In Illinois. Be atoted that the Il linois Manufacturers Assn, bed been approached by Dr. Kronenberg for permis sion for he and his representatives to inspect ell factories and other plants in Illinois. Ur. Mount stated that the manufacturers would be agreeable to granting this permission provided Dr. Kronenberg nould agree that all lcfoxnation he assembled would be held strictly confidential ao that it could not be used agulnet any employer in the event an employee brought suit, claim ing loss of health or disability raaul ting from an occupational disease con tracted In the employer's plant. Dr. Kronenberg, so far, has not glvea that assurance end Mr. Mount Is of tbe opinion that the Information that will be collected will be assembled In pamphlet or otber form end distributed so that It would be available to any lawyer who might handle a suit for en employee. For that reason he feel a thot It would be inadvisable to allow Dr. Kronenberg or hla representatives to make the Inspections they wish to. Uownvor, beceuse of their connection with the Illinois Department of Health, end relation with the Department of Labor, he did not think It would be ad visable to ,-lve them a definite refusal. If the request should be made, we should oak Dr. Kronenberg who he represents, whet authority he hen and what he proposes to do with the Information he Intends to colleot. end when and if that Information la furnished we ehouid then eay we will take the matter up end see what can be done. In other words, Mr. Mount thinks we should not tell Dr. Kronenberg no, neither should we tell him yes, but oarry him along until hla interest becomes centered elsewhere. This Information la given you so that you will know how the StoployerA' Croup facie about Dr, Kronenberg'n proposed Inspection of manufac turing and otber plants. (81gnod) Armstrong Chinn Chief Engineer