New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
STATE EMPLOYMENT AGENClbo.
THE IDEA NOT FAVORED BY THE MANA
GER OF THE BUREAU OF CHARITIES

GER OF THE BUREAU OF CHARITIES
When the proposition to put State ins'i'u''o"s -,
tho nlace of existing employment asehCle9 We"
brought TO the attention Of Secretary Nlcnoi'' -
the Brooklyn Bureau OF Charities !es'eioa'' "'
oxnressed his views on the subject with consiuera-
BILE emphasis. 1t is a subject 10 wh'cn io ''S
GIVEN close attention, and he has clear IDEAS as
~ what the State may and may not properly 10,
for the Bureau over which he has charge mas na'
some experience with employment agencies "ai' '''
Nichols: ,,
90 ooano, as has been established by the State in
Nowyork civ where as l understand II, 'he|
simnlv register the names Of people applying io'
work and send the names out at regular lh'e! 'a''
TO the supervisors of the various townships oi INC
State They do not undertake TO provide "oiN
for any one although they endeavor to bring those
who want helpers into relations with thoSc III
need of employment. That is Gnerent 'hihs
from the work done by regular employment aseh-
ces which are supposed to make some li'es's"-
ton Of the people whom they recommend anu en-
dcavor TO find work for them. This Is service
that ought to be paid for and there would be
urong IN rendering such service by the State
for which no compensation is received. II that Is
what Is proposed by those who think the o'a'e
should go into the employment-agency business
.I do not mean TO say that 1t is not the part OF
the State TO provide employment OF some Kho LOT
peoplo out OF work. 1t seems 10 me that some
thing analogous to our Bureaus woodyards ana
Iaundries might be properly carried on by the
State We maintain these institutions for the pur-
pose of providing work for people OF ooth sexes
who are willing 10 work for small wage Now
WHY should not the State have farm and wood
wards and stoneyards for people who cannot hnd
ANYTHING to do to support themselves? Inder the
modern system, we refuse to let a man beg, ana
II he commits crime we send him TO the pehi'eh-
tiary where we support him and hnd woTN ioi
him. 1t seems to me that II would be cheape! anu
better to provide that work outside OF such an
institution. for II he has work, and cannot get
any, IT Is an easy thing for him 10 commit eiii''
and be sent up. as the saying is
But as matter OF the first importance. any such
work as have In mind ought to be provided outSIe
Of the cities and as far from them a. MAY He to
much. and men should be Induced to get away l!oi"
them as Tcn as p posse theV 10 wonld naturally be
opened In the cities and the effect would be TO draw
here would be an advantage II the power of the State
could be employed transport people from one pdl
where workers were needed. But It Is wrong princ-
Pile give something for nothing save IN einergeLg
to find work for the unemployed those who are DIS
satisfied with the PAGES they have: - ,n,. nure,r
and that is the reason why we recently estaohshea
special b. N Thfn Se fnases 5Ta pre-
only deal with he lowest form I OF ab9r n,c %en 20 ms Is
for helpers ana are willing take the unskilled and
train them. glad of H. and believe they are ren.
see why servant girl who knows her business should
have n free employment agency 10 help her get a
Mace any more than a teacher for example. should.
If / am teacher out of employment, | 20 to a
teachers agency and pay fee for registering my
name and when | get place | have to pay per-
centare on my salary. Nobody complains that this
IS not right and DO not why the same principle
does not apply all the way through.
"Of course it Is wise for employment agencies to be
under Droper supervision wheh OF the State the
city so as 10 make that frauds are no; COM
mi;ted as is sometimes DONE but there Is no excuse
for viping out the agences now In existence and call
Ing on the State do the work they are doing"