New-York tribune., 1907-09-13
LABOR CLEARING HOUSE.
Secretary StrauS Plans a National
Employment Agency"
IFrom The Tribune Bureau.

Washington, Sept 12.-Secretary Straus to-day
declared his intention of developing national
employment agency" a national clearing
house of labor" he it When he
turned to his desk in the Department of Com
merce and Labor. after two months spent the
West and in Hawaii. his first act to summon
Terence V. Powdery. chief of the recently created
bureau OF information. and a long conference
held relative to the possibilities of developing the
bureau to much greater proportions than had been
planned. At the close of the conference Secretary
Straus said to a Tribune correspondent:
The The plan I for for clearing house for labor was
itlto h existence on July L having been authorized
gather information from the whole country as to
labor conditions. where labor needed and OF
what classes. This information was to have been
printed in various languages and distributed TO all
Immigrants on landing, and was intended to put at
there were demands for their services. Rapid ad-
field has been well canyassed and much valuable
Information collected The ports have been vls-
placing the information In the hands or the new
Then the thought occurred 10 us that the in
formation might be of use to laboring people who
are are aTeady % IN the @ ne @hG 6s to S e9 lust g
present / have always been intensely Interested
should keep in mind the fact that the interests of
the employer and the employe are under lis 5urls
dlction as well as the interests or CoIIiltIt;; Co.;;
Throughout my recent trip have made an especial
have notebook fun OF facts have picked up and
which hope be able apply.
Tho possibilities in the development of the bureau
OF information seem almost too great 10 he true
II would seem of inestimable value to the WhoIe
people II reliable information were in their hands
all times, stating. the one hand. Just where
labor needed. what classes were in demand ana
what wages were offered, and. on the other hand:
where labor to be obtained. what class or
laborers and at what prices. This information. X
furnished by the government would be reliable.
and the Individual would have greater assur-
ance before undertaking a journey than the word
OF an employment agent seeking Zee or rail-
road company desirous OF selling ticket have
in the department some excellent men. thoroughly
familiar with labor questions and have Instructed
them to thrash out the question and devise ways
and OF carrying the plan into execution. L
believe II is one OF the big problems or the de-
partment. When Il first sprang into existence the
bureau Of Information sent out circulars 70 the
Governors Of all the states and possessions, asking
for detailed information as TO what were the
labor needs each commonwealth ptHeF reIli-
hle OF information were also asked for de-
tails and arrangements made for regular reports.
These circulars have met with ready responses, ana
already the bureau has developed into employ
ment agency that IS able 10 direct many thousands
Of aborers 10 lucrative employment in all parts or
the country. Its influence Will he great in dis
tributing properly the immigrants coming into the
country. and. through its branch. in prevent
ing the congestion of labor in any given locality