Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Labor Register.

Labor Register.
Editor .Sdr:-Crime Is caused generally by a
want OF employment, and intemperance. There
mostly colOred, In this city than can find steady
and remuneratiye employment. This was proved
by the 1000 names registered to work In dllfng
employed one week, and earn $6. This proves a
great surplus OF labor. and also disposition to
work If it could be had In the city, but as street
why should not this labor be employed In the
country on the farms7 The price OF farm pro-
ducts Is increasing with the Improvement In the
land and Virginia destrous OF working all the
land possible, and this increase In price OF food
makes 1t more and more difficult for the unem-
that the District government establish Ldbor
Registry, where all persons desiring work In the
country on the farms, may have their names
examine or write to such registry to obtain
lasorers. This would answer for the more dis
tant farmers but those near by might hire by
REasa apgh Gd 1 aar D With gn
say 100 feet along the fence at the corner Of B
and It'll streets, south OF the Center market,
where laborers desiring work In the country
ket could see and hire. These two plans would
doubtless find work for thousands, and increase
and cheaper the supply of food to the city, and
all at trifiing cost, while 1t would tend to
greatly reduce crime in the city and more es-
pectally II the thousands OF grown-up bootblacks
and newsboys could be got into the coun-
try to regular employment on the farms, in
place OF eking out miserable existence with
crime in the city.
II this plan works in the capital, doubtless 1t
could be established with advantage in all great
cities with large unemployed population; and
possibly 1t might render unnecessary the 100
Increase Of policemen in the city. With 40
school rooms rented, and many scholars only
going half days EACH with rs miles OF 1mpaSsa-
bic rotten wood streets, a large city debt on
which the interest must be paid, and large an
nual city expenses, of course economy Is de-
manded where possible. And In this interest
why may not the so fremen be made policemen,
two or three from each OF the six engine and
ladder houses to walk eeat at time only two
or three squares each way from their houses, so
as to reach the house when the fire bell rings?
And these f1remen could make arrests at fires.
least one fireman from each company should be
constantly out as water inspector, to examine
houses In the vicinity, and see that the now
general waste In water closets Is stopped This
Is directly In their line and interest and for such
extra service, as policemen and inspectors they
Should receive small advance In pay. All po-
ncemen are now wisely acting as sanitary In
Spectors which Is In this same direction of econ
omy and efficiency, and why may they not all
be occasionally employed as water inspectors to
examine houses where water Is wasted7 The
built up city Is five miles long by two wide, or
ten square miles, and If the f1remen are added
some twenty policemen to each square mile on
duty all the time, which would seem to be Suffi-
Gent, especially II thousands Of the unemploy-
ed can be got into the country as producers In
place Of remaining In the city as Idle consum-
erS, rioters and criminals. A. WATSON.