New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-11
NO TINE FOR AMENDMENT.

Word from Albany that the only obstacle TO
favorable action by the Senate on the Employ
pent Agencies bill, which has already passed
the Assembly, comes from certain church or
CARNATIONS is most surprising and disappolht-
Inc This bill is in the interest Of morality
and no difference OF opinion on minor points
should be allowed to prevent the Suppression
of the monstrous evils which flourish uhuer
covar of the intelligence offices as at present
conducted. -,
# &c said that some OF the churches which
maintain small employment agencies desire TO
be exempted from the provisions OF the Dill re-
ouirinc a substantial license fee and subJectng
them TO strict supervision. Il would De lmpos-
sibIe to exempt them on any basis OF ther not
exacting fees for securing employment for the
nrocurers would Immediately conform to that
requirement. The only way OF escape Is nauy
TO exempt church societies as such, ana the WIS
dom Of that is open TO question III these
church agencies are not run on a business basis
and on a large enough scale TO operate success
fuIlv in conformity with the provisions OF this
hin. their usefulness in proportion TO the labor
extended on them is doubtful. The important
agency managed by St Bartholomew Church
ond others of the same class favor the pro-
posed measure. But even If it is conceded lhaI
the church agencies might properly be exempt
If the bill were being drawn anew, this Is no
time for amendment Only three legislative
DAYS Of this session remain. II the Dill as II
passed the Assembly is amended now, II must
lie over for three days and die. unless it is res
cued by an emergency message from the Low
ernor. Now. this is great risk. TO which the
measure should not be subjected, even II 1t
does work some unnecessary hardship TO a rev
church agencies The churches should be mucn
more interested in the virtue OF the community
and the welfare of humanity than In any paruc-
ular fundamentally Of church work.
The massage Of this bill means the breaking
M of an organized traffic which turns ten thou-
sand girls year to lives OF immortality. Is the
convenience Of some intelligence office attach
mont 10 a church 10 stand in the way of such
an accomplishment? II the bill is unduly re-
stricfive il can be amended next year one
wears license fee can be endured 10y any agency
worthy 10 survive at all. But one years delay
IN the regulation Of intelligence offices cannot
be safely permitted. We are on the eve OF the
81 Iouis fair Already the harpieS are prepar-
ing for that Establishments are now adverus-
ING for from one TO two hundred girls each TO
90 there. and investigation shows that with
several Of them the offers of legitimate EN-
plovnent are merely blind. Safeguards must
no nrovidee. and be provided now. The choice
is practically between the passage OF the Oil as
II stands or no restriction upon wholesale pro-
rqlripg AT a time OF special activity in the IN
famous traffic. What, then, If the OH does
cause temporary or even permanent suspeh-
sion of one or two weak church employment
agencies? The less good must yield 10 the
greater That any church organization pretend
ing concern for purity and the protection OF
virtue should, In the face Of such an alternative
for one instant put its convenience or us plans
of work into the scale against the rescue IN
this crisis Of these thousands Of women from
+ka ruin MANNED out for them and easily TO be
ACCOMPLISHED under the present lax laws is al
most unttinkable. On assembling next Wednes-
day the Senate should pass the bill Immediately
and without change.