Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-04
Free Employment Bureaus.

Inc I1sI Oh al Tree Niiil'iOS 4'iN''S
maintained by the state, originated in
Ohio in 1890, and since that date l.
o,hor states created similar bureaus.
These all continue in operation gen.
orally under the supervision Of the
commissioner Of labor though in sone
states they are under municipal con-
troll. The latest report Of the Massa-
chuse:ts state bureau Of labor sta
tistIcs gives lot Of interesting in
formation about the working Of these
bureaus: In all OF the thirteen States
that have adopted these bureaus there
were last year $4,000 applications for
help, 1919 900 for positions and about
10000 situations provided. The syS-
TEN adopted by Illinois. which was tn ::
first to follow Ohio's example in 1903.
is as good as any, and 4 citation of ;ta
main features Will give an idea Of all:
4 free employment: Office is establishc!
in every town OF 10000 AMI over. with
three ir. cities OF !, 100000. There ar" a
SUPERINTENDENT. assistant and clerk for
each Of the offices. under the state
Board OF Commissioner OF Labor. re-
commended by it and appointed by the
governor. Either the assistant or tn"
clerk shall be q woman. The ap-
pointrncnt Is for two years, rcvocabl"
for cause. The salaries are, respec-
lively, 1880, $1,000 and $1,000. \
separate room for the sexes Is pro-
vided in each office, and signs in Eng
lish and other languages show that
they are free state employment offices.
A further condensation OF the Law
governing the administration is as fol-
lows:
The SUPERINTENDENT records names of
all persons applying for employment or
help desired. Separate registers for
applications for employment shall be
kept. showing the age, sex, nativity.
trade or occupation, the cause and
duration of employment, whether
married or single. the number of de-
other facts as may be required by the
Hurcau az Labor Statistics. to be used
by said bureau: Provided, That no
special registers shall be open to public
inspection at any time. and that Such
statistical and sociological data as the
bureau of Labor may require shall b"
held in confidence by said bureau, and
So published as not to reveal the
identity of any one: And. provided.
further. That any applicant who shall
decline to furnish answers rs to tn"
questions contained in special registers
shall not thereby forfeit any rights TO
any employment the office might So
cure.
The superintendent Immediately fur
Tiers the applications directly. or ne
may advertise in newspapers or any
other suitable medium, the rurpos"
being finding situations for those
wanting them and help for thos'
wanting it, No fee shall be charged in
any way. and even indirect COM
pcnsation is severely punished. The
public. as well as all private offices
are forbidden to send any one To a
place OF bad reputation. under strict
est penalties. In Illinois last year
there were in the three offices iii
Chicago and on" in Peoria 41.49; appli-
cations, for help, 1900 registrations for
situations and l0lh1 positions filled.
The Massachusetts, report. whence this
information is taken, rec )rdS the EcH-
cral utility and success Of these en-
ployment bureaus.