Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-22
EMPLOYMENT BUREAU.
ESTABLISHED LAST EVENING.
a Praiseworthy Effort Which Promises
10 be Successful Officers and
Committees Chosen

ell chamber last evening 10 arrive at some
plan for securing work for the many unem-
pioyed people IN the city. Mayor Belknap
called the attention of the gathering 10 tie
object OF the meeting. He was selected to
act a. chairman, and the reporters OF the
city press present were chosen 10 act a. sec
retaries. Mayor Belknap stated that there
were not by one-half as mauy men oui II
employment IN this city now a. there were IA
October; nearly al of the manufacturers III
the city were striving 10 keep al the men
they could al work, and IT was with consid-
erable effort that they were enabled u
meet their weekly pay-rolls. They were
manufacturing goods and piling them up
but THE pay-rolls went Oh just the same
There were few men out of employment
now ON account of the mills being shat
down, but III the whole the city was not. ~
far a. he had been able 10 ascertain. Ia AZ
deplorable condition a. had been reported
T. ID. Gilbert. Esq, said that he had given
the question some thought during the past
two days. and was unable 10 see how the city
could establish any plan. as city improve
ments were brought about by petition from
the people He had conversed with several
gentlemen, who were unable 10 suggest any
scheme for relief.
NJ. B. Bissell arose and submitted the fol
lowing:
ITO relieve the immediate wants OF large
number of the unemployed men Of our city.
| would respectfully recommend the adop
tion of the following plan, with whatever
amendments may be deemed best
''First-The organization Of All assOcia-
ton. TO be known "a the Citizens Employ
ment Bureau. the officers of which shall be
a president, vice-president. secretary. and
treasurer and an executive committee OF
three members.
''Second-They shall have a temporary
Office. and be on duty from : 10 10 a. ~ each
day for as many days as the circumstances
of the case may require.
''Tmrd-This bureau shall appoint com
mitiee of two men from each ward. who will
pledge themselves to make thorough can
vass OF every establishment employing any
help, such as woodworkers. machlnists,
blacksmiths, carpenters, etc, and get, n
possible, pledge that they viii give employ
ment TO a certain number of men from one
to ten or more until March !. or 10 the lst OF
April or MAY. subject 10 tie men doing their
work faithfully and well. the committee TO
report each day to the bureau the number Of
men aud branch of labor required
Mr. Bissell added that the Bssell Carpet
Sweeper Factory would employ FIVE men.
Aid Launiee thought there were a gooi
many more people out of work than had
been named 10y the Chairman. and that he
knew of instances where many were suffer
ing for the want of the necessities of life.
Capt Cofinbury, County Superintendent
of the Poor. stated that Le hal ihirt, OF
forty more families on his list tran tlore
were in October and that they were iv-
ing supplies from him There we're great
many Polanders in the city who had l,,er
here but a short time and who were unahls
to speak the language or get work. There
we're also some in the city Who oy ned their
homes and were in need Of food and fuel
They had been thrown ont of work. and
their savings had been exhausted.
Hiram Luton related an incident IN which
tramp played on his sympathies 10 the eK
tent of twenty five cents, then spent il for
''budge" This class of professional beggars
should not be benefited 10y the resolutions
offered.
j. =. Creque moved that Mr.. Bissell's
proposition be adopted Mr.. =. y. Fox ia
vored the adoption of Mr. Bisselfs plan.
giving warning to be careful that the people
who belonged here and are worthy receive
the benefit of it. and not foreign w9kmen
who might be attracted here By the MN. J.
II. Tibbits objected to the cases of tramps
being compared to the laboging men of the
city. It vas an unfair reflection on the work
inrman of Grand Rapids. The sympathy
manifested by the business men If tins city
would tend to create the besi Of feeling
among workmen. "A long a. the people
recognized their common interests IN tids
way Grand Rapids would be all right
Aid DeCraaf stated that the Bissell propo.i-
iion would only benefit the mechanic ana
the man who had trade. but not tie gen
eral laborer. These men are the most des-
titute. and in order H. afford this class r
labor relief. be offered the foliouing amend
meut TO Nr Bissells resolution Res0lref,
that The City Marshal be requested - eileen
every sidewalk in the city of Grand Rapids
seeing that TIRE work IS done ~ fer cents 81
hour The expense 81 said cleanine e. be
paid out ~ tho citg supplF Store
AID. Crsens said thai fhis bosls could nof
sc on Mr. Des5raafs Amendments lavfulls
and that the common ccuuri vuafd bs t1e
proper place - introduce a.
Aid. Gilbert Thought tbai Mr Rssssus
suggestion was TIE only practical ons ofer
cd Aid De (fraaf again ua8e an afraaf
ia behalf 81 TIRE men uha worked u7,or ff.s
strests. who hsd no trade end who wDui8 -
ont 81 place 10 p factory Mr Bssel ss56
that in his resolution hf intended ~ oove1
ever unemployed man iE t.s ciff irresuae-
tive of wtnfhsr - lad . trade ~ not
The chaif tsere fsui fts amendment ~ kid
D. araaf - vote. ard 81 was iozf Tie
oririnal notion was fhen cerfsaf
1he following ofhrers ~ fhe rrtoreuarsf
wsrf selected President. ~ r. fiseell. 3 ire
President 7 T. Cre1ue- SerreferV. "
famo~eeuns Tressu~er. J 81 esfrn. Fx
ecutlTe Conmiftes. 4 : Fox Eias Mstfes
= A = Nersief r. ~ T1bnsfs sag
a.