Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-27
MANY hOTAR|Es PUBLIC
MAY LOSE COMMISSIONS
Fail to Follow Provisions OF Statute
as to Labor Law Vio-
lationS.
DoHERTY MAKES STATEMENT
Reasonable Time Has Been Allowed
for Officials to Familiarize Them
selves With New Lnw-Prosecu-
lions Will Follow Shortly.

| Investigations made by the State De-
ing number of cases in which men hold
: ing commissions as notaries public are
shown to have aided and abetted in vio-
| iations Of the child labor law.
Commissioner Of Labor James Is. Do
herty admitted yesterday that inspec-
tors OF the department had supplied him
! with evidence showing the connivance
of a good many notaries public with
the parents and guardians of children
under the age prescribed by law for
wage carriers in procuring certificates
giving them the right to apply for and
accept work in industrial and CONNER
cial plants and shops.
Asked why the department had not
! instituted proceedings against the men
holding commissions from the Governor
authorizing them TO issue the employ
nent certificate necessary for children
who become wage earners. the commits
sioner replied that tho law is COMPARE
lively new. having been approved less
than year ago. The law became effec-
tive. he said. only last July.
POLICY TO MAKE DUE
ALLOWANCE FOR CHANGES
The commissioner explained that it Is
the policy of the department to make
due allowance for the confusion brought
about by changed conditions during the
first few months new labor law is
in force. He said that corporations,
/ firms and individuals affected by new
/ labor laws were always allowed fair
and reasonable time to comply with
the provisions of such laws, the altera-
tons In buildings, machinery. tools and
other appurtenances required amount
inC in some instances to very large
expenditure. Hence he has Instructed
the inspectors when they sailed forth
3 nr n lny
were being observed, to give the manu-
featuring plans. business houses and
other institutions fair warning that
they were ignoring the statute law be-
fore haling them to court.
Actual warning, either written or
verbal he explained, could be given
only In peculiar cases: the department
having no authority to overlook or
sanction violations of the labor laws.
The commissioner said he was con-
Ninced that in many cases where certifi-
Gates have been improperly issued for
child labor. the notaries did not compre-
hend the meaning OF the law il thew
read 1t, while others were ignorant OF
Inc law affecting notaries. He intimat-
ed that the department would no longer
tolerate connivance on the part OF no
taries, whether intentional or inadver.
tent. with violations OF the labor laws
The cases In which evidence against
notaries are available all involve the
Z
paragraphs a, h. c and d Of section s
of an act passed by the present Gem
eral Assembly at the last regular ses-
sion. These paragraphs, with part Of
section 8 of the statute preceding them
read as follows:
The person authorized to issue an
employment certificate shall not issue
such certificate until he has received,
examined. approved and filed evidence
or age showing that the child is four.
al
consist OF one of the following proofs
of age. and shall be required In the
order herein designated, as follows:
ta) a duly attestcd transcript OF
the birth certificates filed according to
law with "a registrar of vital statistics
Or other officer charged witty the duty
! or recording births. which certificate
shall be prima facic evidence OF the
age OF such child
"(b> A passport OF a duly attested
. transcript of certificate of baptism
showing the date OF birth and place of
! baptism OF such child
'tc) In case none of the above proofs
or age can he produced other documen-
'u-v evidence OF age which shall appear
satisfactory TO the officer issuing the
ccrtincate may be accepted In lieu
'hcTeof- In such case q school census
or school record, duly attestcd. may be
used AS proof of age in the discretion
of the officer issuing the certificate
! 'db In case no documentary proof
! of age of any kind can be produced.
the officer issuing the certificate may
receive and file an afTldavit signed by
/ the parent or guardian or custodia OF
! the child which shall contain the name
alleged age. place and date OF birth,
! and present residence OF the child, to-
/ Gcther with such further facts as may
! be of assistance in determining the age
/ OF such child, and shall contain n state
/ ment certifying that the parent, guar
( dian or custodian signing such appli-
/ cation is unable TO produce any of the
I documentary proofs of age specified i'm
/ the preceding subdivisions OF this sec
: ton"
The commissioner said that whilo he
was satisfied many OF the notaries were
/ issuing certificates without seeking the
documentary evidence referred 10 In
/ paragraph ,. he was also aware that
some were ignorant OF the law. But
} n: argued also that notary public
| who issued such an illegal certifica o
! was not qualified to hold n commission.
| lie declined TO say what course would
/ he pursued In prosecuting such cases
4 but remarked that the offcpse was
! either misfeaSancc or malfcasancc In
Office. according to the circumstances
attending each case. and that among
! other penalties incurred by these
2 is ia Of hot