The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-03-13

EMPLOY LhBoRERs THROUGH
UH8cRUPULoUs EMPLOY.
MEHT AGENTS.

Arc the contracting foremeu on
municipal contracting work In this
city IN a combination with the en-
ploymont agents 20 hold up" the
laborng man Ia his search for
work.
This Is IN substance the charge
that Us brought 10 The Star BY a
woildngmaB. who has written a
letter %denouncing the practice Of
hiring men on municipal contracts
through the private employment
agencies rather than through the
public employment office. The
writer gives It as his opinion that
the employment agencies and tha
contracting foremcn divide the
money that IL paid by the lab0rers
for their Jobs.
II ~ likely that the city viii In
yestigate the charges. which are
contained Ia the following letter:
Calls IL Graft.
Editor Star
Dear Sir-RecOgnizing the fact
that The Star IL the only paper In
Seattle that has the courage 10
come out In the open and try and
right existing wrongs. ! take the
liberty Of calling your attention to
q deliberate. cold-bioOded form OF
graft that exists ia this city. and Inn
poses a needless hardship on the
man who has 20 work for his daily
bread. That Is the paid employ.
ment office.
Practically all OF the city con.
tractors hire their men through
those offices q mean contractors
who have strictly municipal con.
tFacts). and that IN face o. the fact
that the city Of Seattle has a free
employment office. in charge OF one
Of the most able and conscientious
men In municipal office. Commits
siOner Gr0ut. a man who would will
inEiy shoulder any extra burden
the city would impose on him II II
meant employment for the hundreds
who daily besicge his offices ia
quest Of work
Hands Are Tied.
Broad and humanitarian as he
IB. his hands are securely tied by
those who ought TO be the frs;
10 assist him by securing their Ia.
borers through the Public Employ
ment office. A great many bull
doing foremen In the employ Of the
city contractors would lose the bit
that they get from the paid en-
ployment shark for keeping three
gangs In operation. namely: One
coming. one going and one working.
Whether the contractors them
! selves have actual knowledge OF
this state Of affairs I do not know.
II they have. shame on them. II
they now have, Il lies within their
power to remove the stigma BY Dr.
dering their foremen 10 hire through
the Public Employment office. Only
such a course would preclude the
possibility OF graf; In this despic.
able petty larceny way. besides Civ
ing 10 the laboring man his rights.
which are presumed 70 be guaran-
tced him by the city Of Seattle.
Question Of Proof.
4. Of course, take II for granted
that the f0remen Of different con-
tractors will say. Prove this. In
answer 70 them. ! wish Ia say that
their gentieman's agreement with
the paid employment office would
make Il impossible for me to prove
Il: and since the Y. s. government
has failed with the Standard OIL
suit ! do not think the good people
OF Seattle win require a humble
workingman 10 undertake more
than the u. 8. government was able
20 do. namely. 10 convict these mea
on their own evidence.
The way for them to prove they
are honest and above beard Is 10 re-
move the cause OF suspicion. and
hire their laborers through the prop
er channel. the Free Employment Of.
flee. | do not believe Il would be
amiss for that fearless champion OF
the peoples rights. The Seattle
Star. so try and create a sentiment
amongst employers to hire an their
men through either the medium OF
the Free Employment office or the
help advertising department q any
reliable daily In both cases the po-
sition would come to the applicant
without cost 20 him, which believe
Is only fair.
Hoping TO enlist your most val
liable aid in this fight for honest
labor, ! am yours very truly.