New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-27
prp,ry THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.

~, 20 .,,o cr,ieF agencies Of immoral frame as
,er as of financial fraud on poor people III tHe
CITY Of Nevv-York is the intelligence JIM
mere are unquestioaably many perfectly IePu-
table persons in the business, ehEaEt' IN "
1o,it,v1a+a and highly beneficial work, but Ihe
mask Of the employment agent is one OF inc
fsvorita DISCUSSES Of the sharper anu ile l''
curer. who has practical immunity IN Ms ol'eI-
.+io,,s ,,rdar the present extremely lax law
Competent authorities who nave naue d
tailed study Of the situation. visiting all the IN
+erirenoe offices IN the city, estimate that not
1ass than ten thousand immigrant and green
oorn+-r girls are annually sent into prostitution
1,x tho direct efforts Of these agencies. lnVesu-
GATORS found fifty Offices Of questionable cnar-
gcrer. and thirty OF these admitted thar they
furnished girls for immoral purposes. ms OF
course Is tho 'ntolerable evil Of the present
system. Lesser. but by 30 means unlmporiant'
evils are the frauds practsed on both employ
ers and employees.
In the interest OF the reputable employment
agencies rs well a Of the public, this business
should be subjected 10 such regulation as 10
eradicate these evils. and it can be done with
ont any hardship 10 the legitimate intelligence
Offices. The bin now before the legislature is
favored bv the Protective Association Of En-
plovnent Agencies and the East Side Employ
ment Agencies Association. At the Assembly
committee hearing on Thursday representatives
% these associations declared themselves salts
fed with the measure proposed by the cnari-
table ORGANIZATIONS which have been studying
the subject for two years. Mr.. McMackin, the
State Labor Commissioner, who, Il might have
been thought would naturally favor State in
stead Of city regulation spoke for the bin, say
ing even that in his opinion it was not drastic
enough. Health Commissioner Darlington also
roucles for the necessity Of the legislation.
Thus II Is clear that the bill is not the product
Of hasty, uniformed and impracucable reform
ing enthusiasm. Ii is based on careful study
through a considerable period. and meets the
approval Of officials employment agents and
others who are best qualified to judge Of its
need and adequacy.
The bin provides for the licensing Of both
person and a place. 10 stop a settled habit Of
disreputable agents Of shifting their headquar-
tiers from neiglborhoods where their character
Is becoming known. 1t requires both "A sub
stantial license fee and bond; fOrhids agencies
10 operate IN liquor saloons, questionable resorts
in living rooms Of tenements. whence dis
ease is often spread broadcast Regulations are
/ made concerning the payment of fees by en-
ployers and employees, FOR the keeping OF rec
ords by agencies and for the prevention Of the
work Of procurers. Then method OF inspec-
ton under the Mayor is provided 10 secure the
! enforcement OF the law, without which Il would
be a dead letter as is the present statute Mr.
McMackin has questioned the adequacy Of the
penalty Of $3.50 or imprisonment for one year
4 for violation Of the law. but such n penalty
enforced would secure obedience much more
surely than a larger one so severe as TO cause
/ hesitation about innicting IT,
The only serious objection brought against
tie bin is that ii includes agencies for furnish
f ing mercantile and manufacturing labor. The
4 plea is made that they should be exempt as 1he
real evils are IN the Offices for domestic ser
wants The mercantile and manufacturing agen-
+ cies are. however. subject TO the present law,
and II now excepted would be free from all con-
4 troll and a refuge where evil could flourish with
out any inspection whatever. Agencies profess
ing 70 furnish work 10 shopgirls and clerks could
serve the procurer as well as those placing do
A nestle servants. They could hold ont stronger
attra ctions 20 delude ignorant girls wanting
"genteel" employment Any loophOle OF this
kind would leave the traflickers in vice all the
liberty they desire.
In view of the character Of this bill and the
declarations OF the agencies themselves in its
favor, II should be passed at once. In spite OF
the failure Of any opposition TO manifest itself
openly AZ the hearing. il was decided on Thurs
day 10 hold il back from Z report until another
hearing could be given. any attempt 10 block
IL by methods Of indirection familiar in legis
lative committees could only be attributed tc