The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-18
STATE INDUSTRIES
IN HEALTHY SHAPE
SHOWN pY THE ANNUAL REPORT
or STATE LABOR COMMITS
sIoNER DoHERrY.
ENFORCING THE LAWS
FIGURES SHOW NET GAIN IN PRO-
DUCT or EMPLOYERS OF
LAnOR--REPoRr OF BU-.
REAU INSPECTIONS.
ENFORCING THE LAWS

The fifteenth annual report of the
State bureau of labor, which has
been submitted to Governor Mann by
commissioner James g.. Doherty,
shows that the year 1874 was one of
prosperity for Virginia industries gem
orally.
In his summary Commissioner
..Tne reports covering forty-three
chief employers OF
/ Iabor--sflows a net gain in product
value OF $I9,1b5. 49o,7s. Thirty In
dustries show gain over the year
previous OF $21,437, 553.49, while thir--
teen Industries show a falling off of
The product value or
Industries reported was S172.59a,-
305.25. Since the last report law
has been passed regulating mining
in this State, which law became opera
tive June, 1912. It's passage had long
been urged by this department and
its features seem to meet with ap-
prevail and support of both operators
and miners.
Factory Inspection.
THE work of factory inspection has
been diligently carried out. as will
"Ingpectiora.', The enforcement of
the laws affecting labor" which de-
wolves on this department has reeeiv-
ed earnest attention, and vioiatorS
have been promptly prosecuted.
ATTRACTIONS OF the ehild-Iabor law
have been fewer as employers be-
come familiar with the statute and
recognize Its necessity. Sanitary con-
ditions show steady Improvement.
There were no wage changes OF gem
eraf Importance, although the ad-
vances made in many industries, while
slight largely exceeded DECREASE.
Following the official system. the
building trades with relative manu-
featuring enterprises lead off in tabu-
lation. other industries following in
alphabetical sequence.
The gross amount produced In these
several industries was s2S, 159, os3.16,
increases over the previous year in
seven enterprises give gain of 81
E5sI.421.1s: while In two there was a.
falling off of stz4, o5T.s4, leaving a
net gain of $2.4S7.as3.52. A general
building wave has possessed cur
State,sand contracts have been award
ed which will show the calendar year
Of 1919 red letter"
Enforcing the Laws.
Regarding inspection the commits
sion says:
I'm pursuance of the duty of sec
ing the laws affecting labor enforced.
which duty has been put by statute
upon this department, there We're
made by its proper officers SOS in
|spections OF manufacturing, merean-
tile and other establishments to which
the several laws applied. against Ss4
for the year previous. Since the in
spection SYSTEM waa Installed dis
itinct change for the better is appar-
ent. The general sanitation Is bet
ter, toilet accomm odations have been
improved. and, in general. the en-
ts<r ~lna nj REnariancH
that healthy bodies make for efficient
Iwork--have In the main taken kindly
to the laws and many are enthusiast
tic in their compliance. Others, how
ever, have resented inspections as an
iimpertinent encroachment on their
declined to obey the laws. These last
cases were hailed into court and prose-
cuted. A fun list OF those prosecuted
will be found later on under the head
Of violations
THE inspectors found toilets good
in Isl plants fair In $50 and bad in
49,. The general sanitary conditions
were excellent in two. fair In sl4 and
bad in SO. Dangerously exposed ma
chinery was found In 141 plants. ele-
vators unguarded In II; absence of
fire escapes in IL, stairways without
ratings in l0s, and In three instances
the proper number of seats were not
provided.
One hundred and twenty-five per-
rnits Scr children hsawesas the ages
of twelve and fourteen years to work
In various establishments throughout
the State were granted since the is
suance of the last annual report. The
reasons for issue were as follows: De-
pendent on own labor for support, fifty
four: invalid parents, four; orphans,
five; to aid in support of widowed
mothers, fifty nine, and IN two cases
the reasons were not given. Fifteen
of these permits were issued by the
courts. nineteen by justices OF the
peace, and ninety by the mayors of
the several cities and towns.
Indictments for vioiators,
Respecting the enforcement OF the
labor laws" which come within the
purview of his department, Commits
sioner Doherty says:
effective enforcement of the laws re.
lating to labor. made by statute one of
the duties OF this department, the in
spectors have reported all violations
of said laws coming under their no
tice In the general discharge of their
duties. and noticewhas been promptly
served on every ytU12tor. When the
infractions were not corrected or
abandoned, Within the limit allowed
by law. the parties were hailed into
court to make answer. 1t is crafty
ing to note that violations OF the
Child Labor Law are fewer and it
is hoped and expected that there will
be found none OF record In the next
annual report D..
There were 103 indictments during
the year for violations of thge
statutes.
The report shows that So persons
were killed and Ala injured In coal
mines during the year. On steam
roads in the State ITO persons lost
their lives from accidents and 1885
were injured. OF the fatalities s
were passengers and !. the rest train
men. On electric railways 20 were
killed and ass injured. of whom three