The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-13
FITZGERALD PUT
UNDER HOT FIRE
Employment Agents Call
His New Bill a
Humbug.
They Say 1t Would Make Him
King of the Labor
World.
They Will Send Men to Sacr amento
to Fight His Proposed Law
to the Eni.

Will come to the attention OF the LeglSla-
ture this winter is that between State
Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald and the
various employ ment agencies OF the City.
Commissioner Fitzgerald is anxious to
have law passed which will enable him
to establish free labor bureau whenever
be chooses. This will give him or the
Governor tremendous appointing power,
and to this the existing employ ment
agencies make vigorous objection.
The next provision he seeks to have
enacted gives him the power to inspect
the books of every employment agency
and get the name and address of every
applicant. The men in the agency bust
ness object to this clause of the law as an
obnoxious interference with their busi-
ness.
They say it may result in their business
falling under the eyes of persons hostile
to them, and that it is unfair for State
free labor bureau, as their competitor. to
have access to all of their trade secrets.
''This man is political mountebank,"
said II. V. Ready yesterday. sand we
shall fight him to a finish. He was po-
litical han. er-on of his brother, afflicted
so as to be unable to earn a living until
his brother got him this place and got
another beauty named Cleve Dam in with
him. Go to Oakland and you will find
these gentlemen's records. They have not
been and are not now the friend OF abor-
ers or labor unions. They are pollti-
clans looking for soft jobs for their
friends. Why should Republican Legis-
lature aid a schemer like FitzgeraldP We
are the friends of legitimate labor unions
\ 20 % ~
business. Why should we be under sur
veillance of man like Fitzgerald?
Never!"
Mr.. Ready had on his war paint and he
has been selected to go to Sacramento 10
fight the measure by which Fitzgerald
seeks to perpetuate power and get the ad-
dresses of workingmen.
sit would give such man as Fitzgerald
a marvellous leverage in politics." said
Ready, ito control the Labor Bureau bust
ness of the State. Wouldn't he favor me n
who vote his way? Where has the mind
of man ever conceived a more gigantic
scheme for political fraud than this? 1t
is simply infamous"
Mr. Ready, however, will have Leon
Dennery or Assem- blyman Arnerich intro
duce bill to regulate employment agen-
cies. 1t will require bond OF 5000 Tor the
faithful discharge of business. The follow
ing is the main provision;
Every person, firm or corporation now car.
rying on or conducting the business OF an
employment or Intelligence Office in this
State shall within sixty days after this act
takes effect or before such persons firm or
corporation shall thereafter commence to
conduct such business, file with the clerk OF
the county, or city and county within which
such business is or is sought TO be transacted
q bond 10 the people OF the State of California
in the penal sum of $5000 with two sureties
approved by Judge OF Superior Court OF the
county, or city and county, conditioned that
the obligor will pay to any client or customer
of said obligor, 10 whom Intelligence for en-
ployment shall be by him or her or through
the age ncy of him or her furnished and paid
for, any aud all ices paid and necessary trav-
cling expenses which said client or customer
may have incurred by reason OF such intelh-
gence for emplo ment having been traudu-
lently repTesen ted by said obllgor or ageEcy,
and also that execution upon any judgmen
against said obligor for such fees or expenses
may be issued against said obligor and said
sureties severaily.
The following is the provision of Fiiz.
gerald's proposed bill to which the en-
ployment agents MAKE vigorous objection
Sec. 4. The Commissioner shall, as soon as
practicable after the passage of tn is act estab-
lish under his direction a free employment
department of the State Labor Bureau, and to
that end he shall establish and thereafter
maintain, free employment offices, one at the
headquarters of the Bureau OF Labor in the
City and County of San Francisco, and in such
other city or cities as he may, in his judgment,
deem the pubic in terest and convenience re-
oure. He shall designate for each of said
Offices a deputy, who shall have charge of
same together with such other assistan is as
may be necessary to perform the work. 1t
shall be the duty OF the said deputy to receive
ali applications, except those of Chinese and
Japanese, made al the office in his care by per-
sons desiring o obtain employment, or to en-
pioy labor or help OF any kind; to note requests
of all such psrsons, and record. III a book
or books kept Tor that purpose, the name and
address and requirements OF each, and fully
impart to all applicants such information and
advice Gs he may be able to give regarding
their several wants; to exclude from the office
and enter upon book kept for shat purpose
the name of any person whom he shall have
found to be unreliable irres ponsible or other
wise OF jectionable; to make monthly reports
to the Commissioner OF the Bureau of Labor
of the number and nature OF the applications
received, the number of persons classified as
to sex and occupationl who have secured en-
ployment through his Office, and the number
and character of wants which he is unable
to supply; to collect labor statistics and facts
relating TO industrial pursuits and employ
ments, and to perform such other duties per-
tanning to said Office as may be prescribed by
the Commissioner OF said bureau.
1t is the general opinion of agents that
these qualifications will make the Labor
Commissioner, as Mr.. Ready put it. "a
dangerous officer, political dictator and
destroyer of legitimate industry" The
VIEWS VI SOmC GIL
agents are subioined:
H. d. Ewer-We are pursuing a legitimate
business for which we pay license of $64 a
year. We rob nobody, but we get men and
women situations for small fee The Com.
missioner, who is political faker seeks 10 gel
monopoly OF the whole business. lie wants
the right to appoint about 800 assistants and
to expend about 100000 year Tor the State
Is this for the benefit OF the dear workingmen
aud their unions2 No, it is for Fitzgerald and
Jim Budd, who is back OF the works. He
wants to reduce our fees and inspect oul
books. His bill would simply run men out Of
the business. It is unjust and ought to be de.
| feated. Free bureaus always fail Tor men who
are not skilled will tackle any job free, bul
they won't pay a fee unless they are skillful.
H. V. Ready-This political understrapper is
simply seeking to pose as king of the labor
ing world that he may control votes and posi-.
tons. His bill will never pass, but iii does
we shall never close for day, but will bea
him. The law is unconstitutional.
R. T. Wsrd-The bill is an unlawful and pes
| tiferous interference with legal business
1t ought to be defeated Fitzgerald or any
other Labor Commissioner would be given q
dangerous and ridiculous power for nothing
]. F. Crosett-Mr. Fitzgerald is an ambitious
politician. He wants more power than the
King of the Cannibal Islands, and mis- bin