Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-12-13

Wisconsin is to establish free en-
ployment agencies, the expenses of
which are to be borne by the state. At
least such will be the case if Gov
ernor-elect La Toilette and the next
legislature heed the recommendation
made by Labor Commissioner Erick-
son in his biennial report given out
yesterday. Mr.. Erickson believes
that it is expedient that the state es-
tablish free employment Offices in all
the principal manufacturing cities
OF the state, and he devotes
several pages of his report
to an explanation of the
value of such plan. He suggests
that the experiment be tried first in
Milwaukee and later extended to
such cities as La Crosse. Superior,
Oshkosh and Racine. He also makes
a number of other important recon-
mendations They are:
That in each house of the legisla-
ture at the coming session. COM
mittee on labor and factory inspection
be created.
That the law regulating the en-
ployment of children be made to ex-
pressly include bowling alleys, sum-
mer and beer gardens and places of
amusement in general.
That the working force of the
bureau be somewhat increased.
That law be enacted requiring en-
ployers to report to the bureau all
accidents to persons in their employ
which occur while they are engaged in
their duties.
That the law relating to fire escapes
be amended and extended so as to ex-
pressly include school houses and
Office buildings.
That the laws regulating sanitary
conditions be enlarged and that the
bureau be given greater power in
their enforcement
Mr.. Erickson says that the above
recommendations do not cover all the
needed legislation but only such as
seems to be at this time Immediately
necessary. Of the free employment
offices he says: IF it is proper to
regulate the conditions of employ
ment, it is also proper to provide
means through which work and work
er may meet. Many states have
already established such offices.
Many smaller communities have also
tried their hand at it. and in most
cases these experiments have proved
successful Wisconsin is an indus
trial state in every sense of the word.
Almost every industry is represented
and they are widely distributed. The
result is that we have large army of
workers, many of whom are constant
1y moving from place to place and
from industry to industry because at
one time work is to be had in one
place, at another in some other place.
The situation is such that almost any
effort to secure employment for the
unemployed will be of value.
"Tbe matter of expense need not
entirely defeat this proposition. A
fair start toward free employment
Offices may be made in this state by
directing this bureau to open such
service in connection with it's Milwau-
kee office. All the preparation that
would be necessary to that end is the
increase III It's present force of one
clerk and the provision of the neces-
sary stationery, an Office being al
ready provided. Thus the only ex-
pense that would be incurred by the
establishment of a free employment
office in the most important and popu-
:, lous center of the state is the salary of
one clerk"
OF the proposed creation of labor
committees in both branches of the
legislature, Mr.. Erickson says: "The
real reason for recommending such
committees is that this seems the
best way in which to insure that full,
free and thorough hearing and dis
cussion that is absolutely necessary to
intelligent action. The way in which
labor legislation has been handled in
this state in the past has not proved
entirely satisfactory. Since there
were no special committees on labor
legislation such bills. when intro
duced. had to be referred to COM
mittees created for other work. In
many cases the bills in question be-
came side issues, receiving such at
tention only as could be spared from
regular duties. While Wisconsin has,
on the whole, fairly complete body
of factory laws, there is a lack of
uniformity and connection between
the different acts. Many of the pro-
visions are conflicting, some are in
definite as to their meaning. others
fall short of the purpose for which
ibey were enacted. Much Of this con-
fusion is due unquestionably to the
manner in which this class of legisla.
tion has been handled. and argues
strongly in favor of the proposed
change"
Mr.. Erickson has a chapter on child
labor in which he points out some OF
the defects in the laws which regulate
the employment Of children. This
law he says, was intended to cover
all children working for wages except
those employed on the farm or other
similar occupations; yet, as bowling
alleys. summer and beer gardens and
places Of amusement are not ex-