The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-10
NFRAUD LAb)RING MEN.
reaass WoFk in 1855 Published
IN Fsii-Inseressiax Companions
Of wages-Expense of the O0ce.

The supplemental report 81 Labor Com
missioner Circuit ser the year 1xS deals
with matters os such pubic interest that
II Is here Published IN fssii. A feature os
the report Is the explanation 81 tse work
ing of private employment agencies. be-
tween which and the city bareaa the spes,
o. feeling does not appear 20 exist Ise
report fellows:
Our ael. OF usefulness has not been
confined 20 the immediate vissnsiy OF Sc
attic, &ut has extended until IL has rrach-
ed the British BOUNDARY line, the Faeifsc
ocean. the Columbia river and tae Recky
Zxountasrs
We have sent railroad lahorers Into
Montana ant Idaho. Sasnsl men and log
gers 10 Esrays harfcr. farm hands all over
Western Washington. ans doubt IL tlseFe
is hamlet Ia she state where il is not
known that Seattle has a public employ
ment office. In fact eur name i known
ia every state in the Union Us IS shown
hy letters Of inquiry received from Call
forgia. Texas. Kansas. Minnesota. Ten
nesses. New Hampshire and other states.
The correspondence Of tho year was
more than double that % any. previous
year and naturally took more OF the time
OF the commissioner In answering letters
We have found IL necessary - II. best
interests OF the office, ami especially In
Keeping in touch with those ordering hei9
by mail. 10 send q postal notice as ssson
as the order * .llea. 50 that Il for any
reason the parties sent did nor arrive the
employer viii know what action 10 sake
This has been a means % retaining the
confidence az distant patrons. where no
other means would have served tae same
purpose.
Scale of Wages.
There are comparatively few people
who are no, grasstied TO observe an Up
ward tendency in the price Of labor. II
shows as nothing else does prosperous
condition In the community. because the
wages 81 sfse laboying man h always kept
In circulation, and If he receives more.
the butcher. the grocer and other rner-
chants reap the benefit: and as those who
work for wages comprise the bulk Of any
community. all are sure to participate in
the fruits OF his labor.
The year lsas has seen n gradual ad-
vance Of wages in all lines. although
more marked In some than others. Rail-
read Iahorers received from 81 70 TO ST.
a day. as against 81 % to 81 "a for iSaT
Mechanics maintained their former rates
with "A slight advance IN most branches
The rate paid to ioggers came up vita
bound. while lumber and sn!ngle mill
hands realized the betfernien. os their
condition in more permanent employment,
and tn most caes higher pay, Women
too. have felt the improved conditions and
those who could III afford TO pay their
domestic heip, 81 20 SIS year or two age
now give with good grace from SIS 10 80
"A month: and those who were paving so
DO not hesitate TO pay Is FOR nrs, class
help
BETTER Quarters.
The office o, the bureau has been quar-
tered for two years and nine months in
what Is practically the third Aoor os the
city hail, and. although better location
than the one formerly occupied. viz. at
the corner OF Yesler way and Fifth ave-
nue.. IS by no means such ia the work
q the office demands. This fact has been
presented to this city officials in such q
way that they realize the disadvantages
under which We have been working and
the fnadequacy OF the quarters furnished
for the work we are expected to perform.
The reasons why n change OF location is
desirable have been fully stated In a
previous report and repetition OF the
same would be wholly unnecessary.
Several suggestions have been made.
and the superintendent az buildings hiss
PREPARED several plans. none Of which has
as vet resulted In a change OF location II
was fully determined at one time toward
the close Of the year TO renoSatA the barn
Of the YesIeT estate at the cornr Of Fourth
avenue and jefferson street for the use
os the labor bureau but on account Of
the protest Of the labor coss3i 1iSssipnerS
the library committee OF the city council
and the librarian. tire premises having
been leased as a public library. the plan
Was changed
Another location was then suggested
and plans were prepared for building 10
ne heated In the square en- the S1a,th side
OF Ye&Ier way 1T the junction 81 Second
avenue and Second avenue south. The
city council seemed IN be unanimously I'm
favor of the plan until there Was tle3 sv
ai54cent property owners q strong protest
against the erection of any building what
ever within the square mentioned when
Il seemed exgedsent te abandon the idea
II am now urging the ACCESSIBILITY ~
securing a lease. which can he had a; a
nominal figure. % the triangle az the cor
n.r ns T9Srd avenue and Yeslsr way al l.
restiy opposite the city hall for the srsc~
ti0n 81 n building for the USE OF fhs
board % health. civil service commission,
ard psitsise empioy ment office ard tbs, IN
aicaiions ara az, present that this plan