The record-union., 1896-11-15
His Report on the Bureau Of Labor
Statistics.
Various Amendments to the Laws
Recommended in the Interest
of Labor.


Commissioner Z. L. Fitzgerald says:
1t will be seen that for thirteen
years since the passage of the Act
creating the Bureau of Labor Statlsucs,
the department has been maintained
only for the purpose of collecting data
relative to the condition of labor and
the Industries of the State without
having been placed in the position of
treating these conditions practically,
but from a more theoretical standpoint;
and without rejecting upon the efficient
work Of my predecessors, L am Tree to
say that a department created solely
for the collection of statistics In this
or any other State, restricted to small
appropriation with which to maintain
headquarters, pay salaries and travel
ing expenses incident to Investigations,
Is a useless and eXtravagant waste of
public funds, by reason of the fact that
to achieve any success in this work
staff of efficient agents, with sufficient
funds to accomplish the work is abso-
1utely essential. Otherwise, informa-
tion is taken second hand from differ
ent prints and relies largely upon re-
ports and bulletins of the United States
Census Department Under the cir
cumstances I would have but two sug-
gestions to make: Either abolish such
e department or equip it with sufficient
funds to accomplish the work"
AIMS OF THE BUREAU.
These conditions, the report relates,
confronted the Commissioner when he
took charge of the office, and he de-
termined to transform it into depart
ment of practical usefulness by the in
auguration Of first, a free employment
system; second a bureau of labor in
The sense that II would be maintained
Tor the purpose of rendering assistance
TO labor in advising in case of griev-
ance, taking up all conditions to which
labor is subjected and aiding and ad-
vising in every way for the benefit of
the working classes; and third, the
prosecution of the work as required by
law in the collection of statistics, and
reporting the industrial and laboring
conditions of the State.
FREE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.
The adoption of the free employment
system has resulted in the greatest
success. the report relates, and under
the appropriation of 81 800 allowed for
all purposes, $500 people have been
with an estimated saving to them Of
$4,000. The work was carried on un-
der adverse circumstances, until
number of gentlemen showed their ap-
probation of the work by raising a
subscription of $1,000 to be used to-
ward increasing the facilities of the
bureau. The work has received assist
ance and encouragement from the press
throughout the State, and the Commits
sioner states that without the aid of
that powerful agent his efforts would
have proved infantile.
BUREAU OF LABOR.
In regard to the Bureau Of Labor 1t
has been the aim of the Commissioner
10 open the doors of the department to
the laboring people as a bureau of in
formation and advice, and the result
has been gratifying.
Advice has been given as to the col
lection of unpaid wages, violation of
labor laws, etc, and a communication
was sent to all the labor unions in the
State in relation to the same AS a
result, the commission enjoys a close
business friendship with the unions
throughout the State.
INSPECTIONS.
The Commissioner has spent a great
deal of time in inspecting different
branches of labor throughout the State,
and as result reports that in the mat
ter of the collection Of wages, assist
ance has been rendered in 1,Oi2 cases
10 the extent of $3333, ia saving to the
working people.
Other branches examined into and re-
ported upon are the time check sys-
tenn" showing the difficulties under
which labor is obliged to exist; convict
labor, and its effects upon the free in
stitutions Of this and other States; the
japanese question and the investiga-
tions into the inroads made by them:
the industries of the State as a whole
and by counties, showing productions
and wealth of the State; the mining
industry, showing the number en-
rloyed, the output and general condi-
lions, and report upon the subject Of
interpretations.
A report upon trades unions with a
history of the organizations from their
incipiency TO the present time is a fea-
ture of the report, and one which will
be read with interest by all classes of
people. as well as history of the
in the state for the past thirty years
and the conditions which led up to
thel.
SWEAT SHOPS.
The subject of sweat shops has also
received considerable attention, and a
thorough investigation OF the system
las shown that although there are
many places in the State where opera
tiVes are required to work unreason-
able hours at very inferior pay the
sweat shop. as known in the East, does
not exist In San Francisco. although
Investigations have developed condi-
tions in manufactures of cheap arti-
cles where the sweating process is ap-
Troached very closely No places
however, have been found where oper-
gtives both live and work
For the fiscal year ending June 80.
1886, the commission has expended for
all purposes $10949 SO.
RECOMMENDATION
The Commissioner makes recommen-
dations as follows:
Ffrst-That while Section 3245 of the
Political Code provides that eight hours
shall be days work, the statute is not
Definite, and is capable of circumven-
tion by contractors who pay by the
hour. and is therefore, In many in
stances, imperative and requires an
amendment TO render its enforcement
effective.
Second-That a uniform law be en-
acted requiring cleanliness in bake
shops and insure purity in the manu-
facture of bread.