The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-09
COMMISSIONERS GRouT's REPORT
Ii Deals Extensively With Alleged
Frauds Upon LabOrers.

A supplement 10 his repor, OF the work OF
the public employment office during. the
past year was filed by Labor Commissioner
GrouI yesterday. Il deals with the work,
ings CT the office in general way and
calls especial attention TO the frauds 81
legged To be practiced upon the unwary by
private employment offices and the neces-
sily for reforms In the present laws.
Il is shown that the public employment
office is not restricted in It's heid OF opera
ton to Seattle and the immediate vicinity
OF the city, but has extended its influence
south OF the Columbia river. north TO the
British line and east 10 the Rocky noun
tains Applications for help In logging
camps have been received in large num-
Der IRON all over Western Washington. and
railroad iaborers have been sent as far east
az Idaho ard Montana. Applicants FOR
positions in Seattle have written the Of
fee from all over the United States. ne
cessitating considerable correspondence.
Some interesting comparisons OF wages
paid In lsss with those paid in lss. are
made, II is shown that there has been an
increase in the price of labor in ali lines.
increased 10 a marked extent.
Comm. s!0ner Groui deals extensively
With the need for more commo3ous quar-
iers for the labor bureau and advocates
the erection of building on what Is known
as the library triangle" opposite the pres
ent city hall. provided the ground can be
obtained fer The purpose.
The portion OF the report dealing with the
relations existing between the public en-
rleyment office and the private agencies OF
the city Is very interesting. Commissioner
Greut criticises these agencies severely
and gives details OF swlndes alleged to have
been perpetrated by them upon iaboring
people. He says that the business Of these
employment agents tends 10 make them
dishonest 20 a greater or less degree in
their dealings with their patrons. He gives
instances where such agents have taken
fees from lab0rers and sent them out 20
take jobs. knowing that satisfactory terms
could not be arranged between employer
and empioye IL is also difficult. Mr. Grou,
says. fer lahorers to get hack fees which
have been ex,or:ed from them by misr.p-
resentation Of employment agents the lat
ter being prone tn take advantage OF all
technicali.ies possible and TO obey the let
ter NJ the law and not its spirit.
Among the reforms Mr.. Grous recon-
mends Is the adoption Of a fixed schedule
% charges for the government Of private
employment agents and the raising Of their
city license from siIo 20 500 per anntm
lie thinks that too much discretion IS now
allowed 10 agents In the matter of charges
and that a higher license would insure
more honesty IN ther dealings
According 70 Mr. CIRCUITS report, the best
of feeling does not exist between the nub-
lsC employment office ard the private
agents. ard The latter Jose no opportunity
90 hinder the city office or bring n into
disrepute with employers, He cites in
stances of this nature
The total expense ~ running the office
for tee wear furnishing - 80 situations.
was s1.315.i an average nj 5 10 cents for
sScfa noSiti0r. as COMPARED with CT. cents
for isss and q cents for 1895