The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-14
LABOR AGENTS
FIGHT NEW LAWS
They Meet and Denounce
Commissioner Fitz-
gerald's Plans.
A Committee From This City
Will Do Battle at Sac.
ramento.
Complaint Is Made That the Free
Bureau Lives by Coercing
State Officers

he managers of the various employ
ment agencies and labor bureaus OF the
City are UP in arms against Labor Com
missioner Fitzgerald.
About twenty people who nave for years
been engaged in the business of furnish
ing employment for idle laborers for a
small fee met at the office of c. r. Hansen,
ITO Geary street. last night and formulated
measures to defeat legislation formulated
by Com missioner Fitzgerald.
To proper understanding OF the issue
between Fitzgerald and those who are
fighting him it is necessary to bear in
mind that the Commissioner conducts a
free labor bureau; that he proposes laws
giving him the power TO establish like
bureaus all over the State, and that he
has EN- phatically placed himself on record
as being engaged in a war to the knife
against all labor bureaus.
I'm letter to a prominent State official,
Fitzgerald said he intended to extermin-
ate u.s." said Agent Ready last night
land we propose to show him up. He has
tried to coerce the heads of State institu.
tons to favor his bureau, has lieu about
US and is simply seeking to gain political
power by wiping out all opposition"
The agents resolved to send to Sacra-
mento $50 printed copies OF the protest
against the conduct of Commissioner Fitz.
gerald.
What we object to most vitality" said
the proprietor of the Ever Company, sis
that the new bill gives the COMMISSIONS Ell
the power of a car. Under it's provi-
sions he may dictate what our advertising
is and where we advertise. He may use
our bulletin boards, placing thereon what
he desires and tearing off what is distaste-
full to him. 1t seems to me that this is
about the most autocratic power ever
given to nybody In this country"
The following are the provisions of the
new bill which are most obnoxious to the
local agents. They are particularly sore
over the matter because, they say, some of
the labor unions have apparently Endorsed
the bills:
Section s. 1t shall be unlawful for any en-
ployment agent to insert any advertisement
in any newspaper or in any other manner adj
yertise for help of any kind unless the said
advertising is done in pursuance of actual
bona fde orders for help which shall have
been received by the said agent. The Com.
missioner of the Department of Labor may at
any time inyestiga said orders in order to
satisfy himself of their authenticity.
Sec. z. The Commissioner of the Department
of Labor shall, during business hours, have
free access TO ali offices used by any employ
ment agent or agents, ana shall be permitted
to post therein copies OF any laws or notices
concerning the conduct of the business OF the
said employment agent. or agents, or other in
formation concerning labor. The said copies
of laws or notices shall be conspicuousy
posted and shall not be hidden, removed or
defaced.
sThe last section is cunningly worded, +"
said G. R. Hansen. at gives the Com
missioner full power to post in our offices,
for which we pay rent, any information
concerning labor That would give him
the right to take away our customers by
informing them that he had jobs for them.
1t is an UNI American and unconstitutional
law. We have always favored labor Du-
reaus, always refused to hire scabs, and
vet they brand us as criminals. We OBJ
iect to his law because he has sworn he
would exterminate u.s."
J. Il. Crossett, who has been in business
here many years, was OF the same opinion.
He said that the bills proI osed by the
Commissioner leave absolutely nothing
for the employment agents. He calls
the bureau my bureau in various letters
to the heads or State departments, and is
simply seeking political power" said Mr.
Crossett.
1t was decided to send committee 10
Sacramento forthwith to fight the bills.
which come up before the committee on
Monday night. The following sections
are particularly obnoxious to the agents,
who say their provisions rob them of all
liberty:
Section g. Every employment agent shall in
connection with his business, keep a book or
set OF books showing the number OF appiiea-
ment agent, the number OF applicants sent by