New-York tribune., 1905-01-27
COMMISSIONER KEATINGs WORK.

For the first time in his official career Mr..
Heating the Commissioner of Licenses, on
Monday last revoked the license of an employ
ment agency conducted Tor immoral purposes
as a link in the Infamous cadet" system. The
present Employment Agencies law was passed
last April. with the object among others of pro-
tecting immigrant and other women from pro-
curers working through the avenue Of the in
teIligence office Mr.. Keating appointed
Commissioner almost Immediately. but only
now as the result OF the activity of the East
Side Employment Agencies Protective Associa-
ton ans of private philanthropic workers, has
he been spurred TO the exercise of his powers
in n case so fragrant that there could be no
possible excuse for ieniency. 1t has taken q
long while for the Commissioner to get started.
but we hope that now he takes his task serious
" and will pursue vioiators of the law with
diligence. Judging however. from Mr. Keat-
ing's own statements and the reports which we
have observed of his hearings we fear that the
Commissioner fails TO understand agency con-
ditions or to appreciate the Importance of the
specific requirements of the act which it is his
duty TO enforce.
The law absolutely forbids the conduct of
employment agencies in living rooms or in cor
nection with living rooms; yet, after all these
months fully half of the agencies on the East
Side are in living rooms. In many cases the
bureau has seemed content with seeing that the
door between an office and living rooms was
locked at the tine OF day inspection. quite
oblivious of the fact that al night the door was
opened and the clients Of the agency were
lodged in them. 1t should require no argument
TO prove the Importance Of this provision OF
the law. The lodging In connection with the
agency is the convenient instrument OF the
cadets" purpose, and the demand for the sepa-
ration is not unreasonable or unnecessary, even
Wi han
est intent may feel it a hardship. 1t is abso-
lutely essential TO the breaking up OF the evil
traffic.
Any inspection Of East Side agencies will dis
cover a great number of blank registers, though
the law minutely prescribes the way they are 10
be kept; and we cannot observe that any serious
attempt Is being made by the Commissioner TO
enforce the law that persons sent 10 work shall
receive the card Of the agency with the destina-
ton written upon it or the provision. that per-
sons sent out of the city must be furnished with
definite contract for the work to be performed
Mr.. Keating has not seemed TO think these
/ things worth while. An immigrant ignorant of
our language, however, who. on being sent out
without this card, finds herself in an evil re-
sort is more than likely to be unable to trace
and identify either the resort or the agency
which sent her TO it, The card is an important
/ check upon the undisturbed operations of the
! cadets" So the out-of-town contract is a nec-
essary safeguard, not merely against the tran
ping OF women but also against financial fraud
upon all workers
There is in this city a complete chain of
! immoral establishments. East Side agencies
| there are many honest agents there, however
who are doing their best TO promote the en-
forcement of the law-are the principal clearing
houses for immigrants, while there are theatri-
cal agencies which. with the bait Of stage tin