The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-08
WOR TIL HAVING.
Public Employment Agencies
and Their Great Work.
How the Plan Has Worked in Other
States and In France.

Quite recently movement was set on
foot in The form OF petition calling for a
public employment agency where idle
men and women could obtain situations.
A Bill introduced.
At the January session of the General
Assembly bill was introduced patterned
after the Ohio law, which vests In the
commissioner Of industrial statistics the
power to organize and establish in all
cities and towns poor public en-
ployment Office. The bill further provides
that the commissioner shall appoint su-
perintendents for each of the offices.
They are directed to post in front OF their
Offices on signboard or in some conspic-
uous place the words, Free Public
Employment Office" These super
intendents receive all appiica-
tions for labor of those de-
string employment and those desiring to
employ labor, and record their names In a
book kept for that purpose, designating
opposite the name OF each applicant the
character OF employment or labor
desired and the address of each
applicant. Each OF the super
intendents is provided with necessary
clerical assistance. No compensation or
fee shall be directly or indirectly charged
to or received from any person or persons
seeking employment or any person or per-
sons desiring to employ labor through
any OF the said offices. Tho superintend-
ents are directed to make weekly reports
to the commissioner OF all persons apply
ing for employment and the character of
the employment desired by each appli-
cant; also, OF all pesons securing employ
ment through the said Offices and the
character OF the same, and q semi-annual
report OF the expense OF maintaining such
offices. The commissioner is required to
print weekly list OF all applicants and
the character OF employment desired
by them and those desiring to employ
labor and the class thereof, and furnish
copies by mail to the superintendent OF
several offices which the superintendents
shall post in conspicuous place in their
Offices subject to the inspection of all
persons desiring employment. Any
superintendent or clerk who directly or
indirectly charges og receives any COM
pensation from any person whomsoever
in securing employment or labor
Tor any person or persons shall
be deemed guilty of misde-
meanor and fined in any sum not exceed
ing $50, and imprisoned In the county Jail
or workhouse not exceeding thirty days.
The bill was referred TO the committee on
special legislation and has never been re-
ported.
Big Success In Ohio.
The great success Of these free employ
ment offices in Ohio, has been demon
strated by the fact that 20, 900 OF the labor
ing people OF that State annually find en-
ployInent. The French government es-
tablished free public intelligence Office
several years ago and among those who
made a study OF the Industrial conditions
in Paris from personal observation was
Commissioner Lewis OF Ohio. This sys-
tenn was found to operate most success.
fully and the Legislature passed the
act by practically a unanimous
vote. 1t has passed beyond
the experimental stage, and a year ago 1t
was found that oil classes OF employers
and employees we're vying with each other
in praise OF these offices. They have been
the means OF wiping out almost entirely
the pay employment offices which form
crly existed in that State to an alarming
extent.
At the national convention OF commits
sioners of labor statistics, which met at
Denver. COL, yeer ago, a
resolution was passed urging the
commissioners of labor of the different
states to recommend to the Legislatures
the consideration of the advisability of
creating free public employment Offices
under State control and supervision. II
may he charged that such offices can
only benefit certain class,
but the same charge could be made for
instance against the public highways. II
seems certainly within the spirit of our
form OF government to inform some
deserving employer OF labor where
he can find help with which to operate
his farm, mill or mine, or some deserving
laborer where he can earn his bread, as
1t is to furnish assistance TO professional
persons who visit the State library and
obtain information ut public expense.
Iowa's Trial.
The State of Iowa has also considered
the establishment OF q system similar to
that In Ohio. Governor Boies in his mes
sage to the General Assembly In 1888
recommended the establishment OF a
free public employment Office in connec-
tion with the Bureau of Labor statistics.
He said in su bstance:
"Few OF our people are coenizsnt of the
expense to which aboring men and women
are often subjected in seeking employment
through private intelligcnce offices. II Is
not unusual for those securing work
through these agencies TO be- required to
enter into written agreements by which
Ia addition to fee paid when they be-
come an applicant for position, they