Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-13
ORDERS TO ATTORNEY
BY THE DE-
PARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
o. ]. Carlton Appointed q Special
Attorney to Look After
Violations.

The Department of Justice today made
public an announcement that the eight
hour law is to be rigidly enforced In the
future. Alleged laxity in the enforcement
of this law was one of the serious COM
plants O., the Federation of Labor and
other labor organizations in the recent po-
litical campaign, and the matter was sub
mitted to President Roosevelt some time
ago.
The Attorney General has appointed o. j..
Carlton of Haverhill Mass, a special at
torney of the Department of Justice to ham
die these cases as they are placed before
the department. which is at present bur.
dened with 800 complaints. Mr.. Carlton
will pass the complaints on to the respec-
tive United States attorneys with direc-
ton for investigation. He will confer with
the attorneys as to the proper steps to take
and the best manner of Investigations. In
addition to the investigations of the depart
ment and its attorneys Commissioner
Neill of the. labor bureau will give assist
ance by making Investigations.
Circular Letter Issued.
Attorney General Moody has forwarded
to United States attorneys the following
letter:
by order of the President your attention
is directed to the provision of AN act re-
daily service of laborers and mechanics en-
ployed upon the public works Of the United
States and of the District of Columbia.
approved August 1. 1892 CT Stat, 34O),
commonly known as the eight-hour law
THE government is determined upon
strict enforcement of this statute. and you
are directed diligently to investigate all
complaints which may come to you from
any source of violations of this law. and
upon your own initiative to make investiga-
ton if there appears to you to be any rea-
sonable ground for suspecting violation or
this law. In every case in which you can
that evidence to the grand jury. with
view to securing an Indictment.
Emergencies Defined.
your attention is particularly directed
to the exception in the first section of the
statute under which laborers and me-
chanics may be worked more than eight
hours in a calendar day in case of extra
ordinary emergency In recent case in
the district of Massachusetts,, Judge Dodge
defined that phrase as follows: An extra
ordinary emergency, such as is contem-
plated by the act, is the sudden unexpect-
ed happening of something not of the usual
customary, or regular kind, demanding
prompt action to avert imminent danger to
life. limb, health or property. The posi-
bility of danger is not enough. The peril
must be certain unusual, imminent and
actual In order 10 constitute an eXtrdorui-
nary emergency such as the statute con-
templates Judge Dodge, also, ruled that
probable pecuniary loss to the contractor,
unless due to an extraordinary emergency,
as defined above, is only an ordinary bus.
ness rick.
II desire to impress upon you the i'm
portance of using every effort to execute
these directions: of being vigilant and ac-
tive in this matter. You will make prompt
and full report to me of all cases, and Of
action thereon With
therefor. You will report Immediately the
action of the grand jury, and the results
of all trials, with specific statement of
the penalty imposed