St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-10

within the limits of the intelligence
Office may be found more stupidity and
premeditated cussedness to the square
inch than in any other portion of Min
neapOliS.
Employment bureau is the name that
will be used instead of intelligence
Office. if the Christian societies succeed
Ia establishing new and irreproach-
able institution where girls may find
places to do Homework.
The manner in which the intelligence
offices have been conducted has not
always been above repraach: at least
that is the verdict Of people who
have had dealings with them. Early
last spring delegates from several labor
organizations met in Joint convention
at the hall over 125 Nicollet avenue.
Testimony taken at several meetings
showed that men often paid the fee at
Intelligence Offices and failed to receive
the promised employment. Girls al
legged that they were sometimes sent to
houses of ill repute. Plans for organic
eussed. but the project fell through for
lack of funds. Now the W. G. 7. U.
and. similar societies are seriously COLI
sidering the notion of starting similar
bureau-although it is not quite clear
whether they wish to help the girls who
work, or take take the burden of pro-
curing good help off the shoulders of
society ladies. OF perhaps provide a
sound
FINANCIAL SCHEME
for the benefit of the temperance cause.
At any rate, the fact remains that the
progressive and philanthropic ladies of
Minneapolis are worrying all the brains
they possess trying to start an intelli-
gence Office on some plan which will do
away with the abuses aud inconven-
venienceS incidental to the present sys-
tenn. A trip through offices where
girls find employment fully occupied
one of the pleasant afternoons last
week. Mrs. Clay's office was first Wis
tied. 1t occupies one-story frame
building on Fifth street, between Hen
nepin and Nicollet avenues. In little
room back of the Office woman was
trying to hire cook. She had
four or five girls before her and
was putting them through a catechsm
as to how many kinds of layer-cake and
pudding they could bake. Unless they
knew the recipes by heart, they had no
prospects of getting the position. In
( the outer Office several ladies brought
/ their children with them. The little
ones played about while their mammas
interviewed the girls on hand OF waited
for new ones to come in.
+ This seems to be the busy season of
the year. All the girls are looking for
new positions, and housekeepers are
making arrangements for the coming
year.
"What do you think of the new en-
splOyment bureau to be started by the
.Woman's Christian Temperance union
and others?" was asked of Mrs. Clay.
.'Why, think it's a good idea. III
help them all l can. A little practical
experience will show them what diff
culties stand in the way. They'll make
ian awful muddle of it, and Mrs. Clay
settled back with that smile of superior
/ wisdom acquired by sixteen years of
daily contact with the peculiarities of
both mistress and servant. 'But there
is room for improvement in one phase
of this business" she continued.
J "What is that?''
.Ladies employing girls ought to re-
fauire references and refuse to employ
girls who could not furnish them. But
the ladies who complain most loudly
against the faults of servants often
come into an office, select a girl and
never ask question about her charac-
ter or where she formerly worked. Such
ladies have only themselves to blame if
their help proves unsatisfactory"
"How about employers giving refer
ences also?n was asked.
"That is both proper ard necessary
for the girls protection, where those
employing help are strangers, but 1
avoid any trouble in that direction by
only sending girls to people of whose
good standing l am sure" The Domes-
tic help agency, opposite the Woman's
exchange, was next visited. The rooms
were neatly furnished and carpeted.
Mrs. Biggs. the lady in charge, says
that she has model establishment and
that it is Endorsed by the Woman's ex-
change and no one ever heard of that
institution indorsing anybody or any
thing which fell much short of perfec-
tion. Mrs. Biggs claims to have solved
the question of employment by making
a personal investigation of all references
submitted by girls and supplying help
only to the .'best' people.
E At Douglass and the Nicollet intelli-
genee office one feels relaxation of
the strain of
INTENSE RESPECTABILITY
which pervaded the other establish
ments. Hiring help no longer seems