The San Francisco call., 1895-07-17
THE LABOR BUREAU.

The very large number of unemployed
persons who have docked to the Free
Labor Bureau instituted by the State under
the supervision of Labor Commissioner
Fitzgerald presents an instructive subject
for the student of economies. We have to
consider first the fact that no fee for regis
tration is required, and that the bureau
usurps and in a measure concentrates the
business which hitherto has been handled
by the various intelligence offices of the
CITY. Apart from the absence of a fee for
registration in the State institution, the
main difference between 1t and the ordl-
nary intelligence Office is that the Labor
Commissioner charges himself with the
responsibility of ascertainlng the character
and standing of those who apply to him,
and with the further task of recommend
ing for employment those only who by
such investigation are found to be worthy.
This makes a most radical change in the
whole standard of service, and in meas
ure represents the old-world idea of a
written character" from the last en-
plover. To the extent that the Labor
Bureau carries out the idea of its responsi-
bility to employers will the value of its
services De III O1ldb 1CSdlN.
In this country, where there is no such
check on employees as some sort OF lndorse-
ment, the natural tendency is toward low
ering the standard of excellence, to the
detriment OF both the employer and en-
ploye. A sense Of responsibility is gener-
ally necessary to the best conduct.
Assuming that the State Bureau will
faithfully carry out this idea it is clear
that it should receive the moral support Of
all the labor organizations. Their duty to
find employment for the idle is incomplete
without an understanding of the wisdom
and morality of seeking employment for
those only who deserve it, and these are
they who by their conduct in the past
have established their value. California
has wonderful variety of employments
for workers, skilled and unskilled. In the
regular employments, such as domestic
service, it is the rule that the best workers
receive generous salaries and rarely have
to look for work. Indeed, the large en-
ployment of Chinese and japanese servants
in domestic work should serve as warn
ing to labor organizations that they should
be able to furnish workers with whom no
alien under the sun could compete.
If the Labor Bureau succeeds, with the
cooperation of the labor unions, in
making workers of all kinds believe that
every good thing in life worth having
must have beginning; that industry,
fidelity and frugality invariably constitute
the first steps toward individual independ-
ence, and that he who serves his employer
best will soonest become master and en-
ployer himself, it will have accomplished
the highest task within its scope. Since
the labor unions have become so extensive
and powerful as to assume the right to de-
termine the relations which should exist
between employers and employees, it
seems to be clearly their duty to assist the
State in elevating the standard of SER
vice. In short, the State institution seems
to be an ideal opportunity for the laooring
classes and one deserving of the sympathy
and support of all who are worthy among
them; and if it fails to work many reforms
that are needed it will have missed one of
ire hiChast oDnortI1pifiec