New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-28
FupLOYERS md EuPLOYEES-IN CITY
ND COUNTRY.

1ND COOhLhi'
One of the newest of our city institutions Is
proying to be on, of the enthusiastically real
ling a degree of success that may well en-
courage other similar efforts in large cities 1Or
promotng the public welfare Ill town ana
country. The FREQ Labor Bureau" III the
first six months of its existence, has demon
strated what nay be done by well-dlrected
effort in bringing together employers and en-
ployes on terms mutually advantageous-pr0-
vidinp situations for the destitute, and pre-
venting or relieving much distress-thus and
ing TO solve ole of the most important prob
lens of society especially in large cities.
Multitudes ON both sides of the industrial
oucstion-pcr9ns wanting "hclp" and others
needing emplYment-have now at last an IN
stitution whcp their respective necessities can
be answered successfully within its limited
sphere. The natter is worthy of special atten-
ton 10y all wlo stand in either relation, IN city
and country or the dcarth of "help" in the
rural districts renders doubly important an IN
siitution that enables thousands of our country
friends to score adequate assistance from the
superabundanl population of the citics-irom
other large cites rs well rs from Newly
rs it cannot b, doubted that other cities will
profit by our Example in establishing this Inn
portant Bureau.
Editors through the land, especially in the
western regions, where labor is most wanted,
may benefit tleir readers by turning their at
tcntion toward responsible public institution
like this in Ncg-York, where thousands may
bc found who will gladly take situations III
regions where they can enjoy more comfort
4. e
than usually follows employment in large
cities In this way large amount of incon-
veniencc and distress may be prevented or rem
edicd, and all parties employers and employees,
and the public generally be greatly benefited.
Tho Free Labor Bureau" il. as yet, very
little known even in this city, for it has not
been advertised as it should be to produce the
full results that it is capable of etlectlng. a
few facts respecting its first few months may
at least family indicate the great benefits 1t
can render when its character is widely known
IN country rs well as city. Personal cXamina-
ton of the institution and its records cheers
uS in saying q few words about what has been
already accomplished. In the SIX months since
ia organizaion-from June Is to Dec. l5-it
has SAMPLED the wants of about twenty eight
thousand prisons, by furnishing over fourteen
thousand (4O23) persons with employment,
and OF course about m equal number OF en-
ploycrs VIII "help.r About one fourth of tho
persons furnished with situations are males,
and the remainder women and girls. In addi-
ton to the (abouD twenty eight thousand en-
ploycrs am employees thus supplied rs they
desired, thre are about seven thousand appll-
cants on he books for help and for employ
ment- amng which number the employers are
nearly sxcen hundred more numerous than
the persOIs seeking places. Here then Is u
total of more than thirty thousand persons
brought t,gether as employers and employees
during the brief career and with the limited
means of this single Bureau. Let the add
yantages If this Bureau be fully understood
through tie country rs well ~ in the city, and
the increased applications will soon form an
aggregate which will render even that thirty
thousand 6 comparatively small number. 1t Is
an encouraging sign, at this early stage OF the
enterprise, that about One-third of the en-
poyts were provided with situations in the
country.
The way that employers and employees are
brought together aids greatly in satisfying both
parties. Che Legislature having provided
$4,000 toward paying the expenses of the ex-
| pertinent ms it was considered, the appli-
cants have nothing to pay-so that bribery and
collusion 90 frequently charged against some
of tho culinary intelligence offices, find no
field for operations here. The scrutiny of char
acter contributes largely to the gratifying re-
suits. Testimonials or references are required,
so that unworthy employers, especially III the
case of fmales, cannot make this Bureau
convenience in getting recruits for unworthy
purposes. Applicants for places are, OF course,
required b furnish characters" or recon-
"mendatiOns." All these testimonials, on both
sides, are referred to in connection with tho
names in appropriate registers; beside which,
there is alOthcr record, Black Book
wherein arc entered the names of employers
and employGs who may be found unworthy of
confidence. Gambling and other houses" of
unpleasant description are noted accordingly,
as soon as their characters are ascertained, for
"hep" is not sent to suspicious paces,-while
unworthy employees are duly marked" in the
same e" Black Book with the oilenses for which
they were discharged.
The manner in which all registered per
sons are treated inspires respect for the insti-
tuition among employers and employees, as it
must also among all visitors. Excellent order
is preserved in every respect, and il is a COM
fort to find that the legislative provision made
for the Bureau. and the judcious arrangements
made by the Commission, of which Gen.
Bowen is President, are so faithfully admins
tered by the interchangeable Superintendent, Mr..
G. NJ. Losee-about whom it is simple justice
to say that it would be difficult to find
better man for position requiring such pecu
liar characteristics in an enterprise so import