The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-15
LABOR AGENTS TO FIGHT
They Pursue Fitzgerald and
Issue an Address to the
Legislature
A Claim That the Proposed Bureau
Is an Expensive Political
Scheme.

At meeting of the various EN- ployment
agents of the City it was last night decided
to send Agents Hansen, Precht and Cros-
sett to Sacramento to fight Labor Com
missioner Fitzgerald's proposed bill,
which, they say, will cause them to quit
their vocations.
1--WE shall charge that Fitzgerald has
coerced State officers" said Mr.. Precnt
last night.
The agents formulated an address TO
the members of the Legislature and had
several hundred copies printed yesterday.
1t runs in part as follows:
To the Members of the Legislature now Assem-
bled To the questions you have been called
or will be called upon TO argue, "Shall the two
proposed bills of Fitzgerald, to establish a
Stale Labor Bureau and to reduce the commits
sion now charged by employment agents to
one-half," become laws? Our answer is en-
phatically no.
The employment business is as any other
business, legitimate and honorable. We are
licensed and pay license amounting 10 800 per
wear each. Many of US have been in this same
business upward of thirty five years.
We have invested many thousand dollars
and years of Ia Dor and study building up our
business, and none OF US have become rich.
Our methods of doing business fol-
lows: We secure positions tor male and fe-
male applicants both City and country, charg-
ing 10 per cent commission of first months
salary for our services rendered. No charges
are made unless situation is actually secured
and accepted by applicant
After calling the bill political scheme
the address says:
We believe it to be great Democratic steal,
to be imposed on the now already over
burdened taxpayers for Democratic politics.
whereby they could control the votes of the
laboring classes and coerce them to voting
their ticket, providing he controlled the en-
ploying OF that class OF men in every town. and
he, or rather his deputies, could be daily work
ing up votes; and having no experience in
the employment business, they could do as
trey have in the past-send dishwasher to
i'll railroads. piker S place and farmer to fill
buffers position in a private family.
1t takes years TO perfect a man 10 select
help, as well as to understand any other bust
ness Regarding trades unions, we are and
have always been in accord with them: an
union there is strength" Some of the hangers
on at the free Office have even perjured them
selves before Fitzgerald in com plants about
employment OfnceS
We are willing to bond ourselves in $4,000
bond 10 show our good faith
All employment agents always have and
ALWAYS will refuse in case OF strikes OF abor
unions to supply their places with the so-called
scab labor.
The proposed State Free Labor Bureau would
impose on the now overburdened taxpayers,
ourselves included. an unneces sary expen-
diture OF probably 100000 per annum, and
give few situations to a favorite few; while
on the Otner mana, rs Inc employ mcntagenc1eS
now stands, positions are furnished to all
worthy applicants.
Ready & Co. and Ever & Co. say that
Fitzgerald has misled several labor unions
by making false representations concern
ing their business. They say they will
make these charges at Sacramento.
The CALL is in receipt OF a communica-
ton from Secretary A. M. Beacn of the
Building Trades Council to the effect that
the council has indorsed the Fitzgerald
hill