New-York tribune., 1909-07-03
NO VACATION PAPERS.
Children Who Want to York Must
Be Examined by Health Board.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In view of the seemingly widespread incor-
rect idea regarding the employment Of children
during vacation in this city. may be permitted to
state that since 1893 the issuance of employment
certificates working papers for vacations only
has been discontinued, the law permitting such
practice being repealed that year Persons desiring
to employ children during the summer time can do
so legally only when the regular Board of Health
employment certificate is filed for each child under
sixteen employed A school record, signed by the
principal of the school the child last attended.
or letter from school official giving permission
for the child to go to work is not legal employ
ment certificate, and should not be accepted by any
employer. The penalty prescribed under the labor
law for employing children without Board of
Health employment certificates is $50 for the first
offence.
Children desiring to go to work during the pres
ent must obtain from the office OF the
Board of Health of the borough in which they
side the regular employment certificate. To secure
this applicants must be at least fourteen years of
age, and present school record signed by the
principal or head OF the school last attended show
ing that they have attended school at least 13O
days during the twelve months next preceding
their fourteenth birthday. OF during the twelve
months next preceding the date Of application for
such school record. To obtain such school record
under the ruling Of the Superintendent of Schools.
a child must have completed the work of the 5A
grade or its equivalent.
In addition to the school record, applicants must
file documentary evidence to prove that they are
fourteen or fifteen years of age. Such evidence
may be one Of the following kinds, but must be
presented in the order herein named: (a) Birth
uhcate; (b) certificate of graduation (c) passport
baptismal certificate: I'D other documentary evil
dence (e) physicians certificates. Under other
documentary evidence" the following accept
able: Transcript of the immigration department
record OF arrival; transcript or relief society hos
pital court other institutional records vaccina-
tion confirmation or bar n1itzvah certlhcates-in
fact. any authentic paper signed by the proper Of
hcal and official letterhead which has
basis carefully kept book card record giving
the OF the child in question.
As a last resort, when none OF the foregoing
kinds OF evidence can be produced parents are
permitted to make application for physicians GER
thcates as evidence of age. Such application must
be file for ninety days. after which time the
child is given a physical examination by two
physicians designated by the Board OF Health,
and in case such physicians in the opinion
that the child is fourteen or upward, a statement
in writing OF this opinion is accepted evidence
OF age II is important to note that the law under
circumstances permits the acceptance Of the
parents affidavit that OF friend sole evil
dence OF the age OF the applicant 1t is therefore
waste OF time and money for parents 10 go TO
notarles 20 swear to such affidavit to be used
I'm connection with the application at the Board
of Health for an employment certificate. It is re-
quired that the parent guardian custodian Of
a child applying for an employment certificate
shall accompany such child and sign the applica-
ton blank for such certificate.
The New York Child Labor Committee for some
time past has maintained two agents 10 assist
parents and children by answering questions and
giving necessary Information. particularly with ref
erenca the quickest and cheapest method OBJ
tain evidence OF age acceptable under the law. Miss
Minor represents the committee IN this capacity at
the Manhattan Office. 55th street and Sixth ave
nue.. and Miss Watson in Brooklyn, No. 3S Clinton
street both OF whom AT these Offices daily and
will be glad 10 be OF assistance TO parents.
GEORGE A. HALL.
Secretary New York Child Labor Committee.
VnrE Inn. ID