The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-02-18
TRADE UNIONS WANT
FREE LABOR BUREAUS
Labor Is Much Interested in
Several Bills Pending Be-
fore Legislature.
Union and Non union Workers
Have Their Weather Eye
Upon the Solons.

. st. Paul. February IL. Organized
labor throughout the state is taking
q greater interest in labor measures
now before the legislature. and to be
presented than at any previous time.
Current reports would indicate that
some of the bills will meet with defeat.
and among this class is the employ
ers' liability oct, upon which so much
time and money has been spent to
secure a measure which would stand
the tests of the higher courts in the
event that it's validity was ever con-
tested. Numerous reasons are ad-
vanced by the supporters of labor bills
for the lack of necessary support, but,
of course, these vary. -
Interests centers at present upon the
bill for the establishment of state
employment agency, to be operated
under the direction Of the state labor
bureau. Nearly all workingmen,
whether union Or non-union, would
be pleased to see such an institution.
The success of employment bureaus
conducted under state supervision, in
other states, seems to warrant the
assumption that one in Minnesota
would result in removing many NJ
that working people, who seek posi-
lions through employment agencies are
heir to.
The labor bureau established in Su-
perior and operated under the direction
of the Wisconsin bureau, has proved
singularly successful, as is also the
Municipal bureau In Duluth, and those
In position to know say that these
institutions have done much to remedy
evils. The strong support, not only
from the ranks Of the labor unions,
burt also from workingmen who are
outside of the unions, as we'll as many
employers, ,-- -
1t is certainly little less than a crime.
to compel the man who is out of work
and honestly seeking employment to
yield up his last dollar for the purpose
of securing a chance to exchange his.
labor power for an opportunity to earn
Z living.
There are also many abuses ofsa
private employment agency which.
would be corrected under a properly
conducted public employment bureau.
Under private employment system.
ss"~AS 40 AAo OO0OS ludS 4uSn Az
sent on long Journeys with the ex-.
pectation Of securing employment
which never Is furnished them, and
their money 10 taken with the knowl-
edge that the chances will be largely
against their returning to the place.
from which they are sent, to make
trouble. and thus they are compelled
to become tramps and beggars. II q
equally true that under the present
system It Is regular thing for the:
foreman Of large contractors to stand
In. with employment agencies and give
q few days employment to men for the
purpose Of getting their money for
fees, which IL divided between the
foremen and the agencies, and the
men are turned adrift In q few days
to make room for another crew who.
are bled In the same manner. 6;
These are abuses which all who have
given the subject any investigation
know exist, and the only way in which
they can be surely and speedily
fsmedied 10 by the estab lishment Of
public employpent agencies. whore the
man ont Of work can be furnished ans.
pldgmspt without being robbed .of hiig
last dollar. sssss . .sss