The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-18
BAY STATE LEGISLATURE.
An Important Bill Concerning Employ
ment OGices--The Gothenburg System.

an AnpOTtunS ConCeEutuS EmPhoy
mont Onices--The Gothenburg System.
Boston, Jan. ls.-A bill was introduced
into the house which contemplates a
complete overturn in the intelligence
Office business. The bill provides for the
establishment and maintenance of free
employment Offices in such cities Of the
commonwealth as shall accept the act,
under the direction OF the chief of the
bureau of statistics and labor.
The bill provides for the appointment of
a superintendent to have charge of each
Office, who shall make weekly reports to
the chief of the bureau, and that no fees,
direct or indirect, shall In any case be
taken from those seeking the benefit Of
the Offices which shall be confined to resi-
dents of the state. The bill further pro-
vides for rooms and furniture for each
officer, at the expense of the common
wealth, to be refunded in the form Of
taxes by the cities which take advantage
of the act.
There are undoubtedly intelligence
offices whose manner of doing business
imposes hardship upon their clients, but
there would seem TO be no especial reason,
therefore, for the commonwealth to 60
into the employment Office business-un-
less, indeed, IL IL In the interest Of the
people for the state to enter into every
department Of industry; In that case this
bill is admittedly In the right direction.
There is distinct sentiment against
the Gothenburg system of dealing with
the liquor traffic. The argument is ad-
vanced that 1t Is neither expedient nor In
the line of good morals for the common
wealth to go into the rum business, and
that, IL 1t were, IL Is extremely doubtful
that reputable men could be induced to
embark i'm the undertaking.
But it will be observed that the same
objections which are brought against the
Gothenburg plan are equally applicable
to the high license system now in vogue
in Massachusetts,; but Mt the same time
high license has probably done as much
as a prohibtory law could have accom-
plished, il not great deal more, and al
though the Gothenburg system may not
be an ideal plan, IL IL will restrict liquor
drinking, il is thought TO be n proper
thing for trial.
The order introduced in the senate call
ing for information from the railroad
commissioners relative TO the number of
trains discontinued on the Old Colony
system of the New York, New Haven and
Hartford. etc, came up for adoption
Senator Milton offered an amendment TO
the effect that "the board of railroad com
missioners be requested 20 furnish the
legislature with such information as It
may possess or be able to obtain relative
to all changes in the running of trains by
discontinuance or otherwise, and the rea.
sons therefor. on the Old Colony system
since the lease Of the Old Colony railroad
TO the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford" etc. In its amended form the order
passed.
Among petitions presented In the house
were these; For the repeal Of so much of
chapter 276 of the acts of 1855 as prohibits
the taking OF eggs OF undomesticated
birds for food purposes within the limit
OF Nantucket county; Theodore f. Davis,
for si3,S22. IS compensation for services
rendered in the prosecution of the com
monwealth for refund OF the direct tax
paid to the United States. relative to CO.
operative production and distribution
under the direction OF the chief of the
bureau OF the statistics OF latsr for more
equal representation in che election of
senators and representatives in the gen
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