Evening star., 1909-05-23
Berlin, Germany, Makes Un-
employment Respectable.
AGENCY IS MAINTAINED
Home, Which Is Clubhouse and
Mart Combined, Feature.
HOW ESTABLISHMENT IS RUN
Preference Given to Married Men
and Those With Children to Sup
port, if Qualified.


BERLIN. May 22.-Berlin has solved the
problem of making unemployment re-
spectacle and self-respecting. The agency
through which it Is accomplished is q CEN
trail labor exchange, maintained through
cooperation of municipality, workers and
trade unions. In splendid and extensive
quarters Of its own In the heart Of the
east central wholesale district the Ar
belts -Nachweis zu Berlin places the man
or woman in search Of work on the same
trading level as the brokers who
have produce to sell. in Mark lane. 1t
does more. On the Berlin labor exchange,
while waiting for market, labor is pro-
vided with a home which is q clubhouse
and mart combined
A model of German paternal organiza-
ton and thoroughness, the labor ex-
change is operated at a cost OF less than
$25, 600 year. On this budget, $l1OO OF
which Is municipal subsidy and $lv,OU
contributions Of workers and trade unions
the labor exchange provided In 1907 shell
ter for 166,O90 men and women In search
of employment, and found 1t for 9o,67S or
them-an average, roundly, Of $50 appli-
cants and 265 put to work daily. To see
the simple machinery Of this institution
In motion-its entire operating stan Is
only twenty-seveh-is to come away won
dering at SO practical a system for bring
ing the unemployed and working oppor-
tunities together on q basis devoid OF the
influence Of charity.
Three Main Divisions.
Two large fve-story brick and stone
buildings, designed to accommodate 1900
men and women at one time and house
the exchanges various departments.
There are three main divisions-for women
and girls. for unskilled workingmen and
boys and for skilled workingmen. The
latter department is subdivided Into
trades. with separate quarters for the
woodworking industry, smiths, bakers,
painters, bookbinders, plumbers, paper
hangers, leather workers, plasterers, roof
ers. machinists, butchers, street employees,
glaciers, elevator men and printers
Any unemployed person may invoke the
exchanges work-f1nding facilities upon
payment Of a registration fee Of cents.
II the job seeker be a member Of any OF
the trade unions which contribute as or
ganizations to the upkeep OF the ex-
change he is exempt from payment OF the
registi alton fee. For country famous
and these OF the simplest sort. are re-
quired to be gone through. A man or
woman steps up to window like bank
teller's and fills an application form for
registration, on which 1t Is required to
state name. age. whether married or sin
gle, last place Of employment, how long
out of work and in what occupation last
engaged. Upon payment Of the registra-
ton fee a receipt or membership card is
issued. which entities the holder to the
privileges Of the exchange for three
months. The exchange Is open in spring.
summer and autumn from Z am TO
pm. and in winter from 8 am. to 8 pm.
In the skilled trades special hours are set
apart for various industries. SO that DIFF
ferent trades may use the same quarters
at different times.
Two Great Halls Provided.
Main interest attaches to two great
halls set aside for unskilled men and
enters the imposing premises in the Cor
mannstrasse the saal for male unern-
ployed is first reached. Spacious. high
for !. 400 and standing room for 500 more
on a gallery running round all four sides.
1t looks like a real estate exchange OF
the trading floor Of a stock or grain mar
ket.
Scattered here and there at regular in
tervals are signIosts labeled "house
servants" ''teamsters." younger work.
men, "elder workmen," ETC., and seated
in the immediate vicinity were men
and youths answering those descriptions
Each group was subdivided by signs read
ing January" February" or March,"
indicating the date at which the out-of-
works at those particular points had
taken up their job vigil. This throng was
good humor. Here and there sat couples
playing at drauEhts. Yonder q gray
beard pulled contentedly at pipe. Across
the hall at the exchange canteen stood
dozen fellows enjoying their midday meal
coffee with milk and sugar for 1 cent,
a glass Of beer for cent or a sandwich.
slice of sausage or portion Of salad at
cents apiece. Others were smoking can
tAA, 1H<~ HAt1 al 0NS~ AA
or cigarettes at Ave for cent. Those
who had "dined" were Willing their time
away with newspapers and magazines
furnished gratis by the exchange libra
rian.
Repairs to Shoes and Clothes.
A broad-shouldered teamster came from
the boot-repairing room. where members
Of the exchange before starting out for
jobs can have their footgear repaired for
cent. Next door was the tailor shop,
where clothes are mended and cleaned for
the same price. Legal advice is even
cheaper, for the exchange maintains q
bureau where members can get consulta-
ton upon the law, either in working or
private affairs, free Of charge. The law
bureau adjoins another splendid feature
Of this amazing unemployed club-a model
first-aid medical and hospital room. One
room, where hot and cold shower baths
In separate booths, including use of soap
and fresh towels, may be taken for l
cent
While the visitor is losing himself in
admiration Of all this, messengers dash
in and out to work, others stragEle in
looking for it. Inspector Steffen head Of
the male division,> enters the great hail.
where the unskilled men and boys are
conSregated. He raps for silence. In his
hand rustic dozen pink slips, Men and
wanted applications sent In by employ
ers by letter. messenger or telephone. He
reads out: "Bumpstein, Stralauerstrasse
10. wants eleven piano movers for two
weeks; wages. 621s cents q day" In
spectOr Steffen advances toward the
younger workmen'' pit. Piano moving
Is too strenuous for older men. Ten,
twenty, perhaps thirty, fellows rise from
their benches, eagerly holding aloft their
numbered membership cards. for, other
things being equal, precedence Is given
to those who have been waiting longest.
Herr Steffen makes his selections care
fully bearing employers and would-be
employers interests mutually In mind.
He gives preference to the married men
and those with children to support, but
the exchange Is jealous Of it's reputation
for supplying the right men for the right
places.
Strong Drink Tabooed.
working man or woman who gives
evidence OF too strong inclination to
drink or slothfulness Is frequently recog-
mixed and refused the privileges of mem
bership. The exchange has done its work
when it sends Bumpstein his eleven plano