The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-24
How Berlin Solves Problem
of Caring for Unemployed

BERLIN, May 23.-Berlin has
solved the problem Of making unem'
pIoyment respectable and selfrespect-
ing The agency through which it is
| accomplished is a central labor eX.
change, maintained through cooperation
of municipality, workers. and trade
unions In splendid and extensive quar-
ters Of its own in the heart Of the East
Central wholesale district, the Arbelts-
Nachwcis III Berlin places The man or
woman i'm search of work on the same
d1gnificd trading level as the brokers
who have produce to sell IN Mark lane.
1t does more. On the Berlin labor cx-
change. while awaiting market, labor
is provided with n homo which is club
house and mart combined.
A model Of German paternal or9anl.
zation and thoroughncss, the labor cx-
change is operated at cost OF less than
500, 900 year. On this budget, S13,-
600 Of which is municipal subsidy and
$4,000 contributions of workers and
trade unions, tho labor exchange pro
Nided in 1907 shelter for l5S,098 men
and women in search Of employment,
and found IT for 95,6S7 OF them-an
average. roundly. Of $50 applicants and
265 put to work daily. To see the SIM
pie machinery of this institution In mo-
tlou--its entire operating staff is only
twenty-seven-Is to come away wonder
ing at so practical system for bringing
tho unemployed and working oPporc,
tunities together on a basis devoid OF
the paupcrizing influence of charity.
Two large five-sioried brick and stone
buildings, designed to accommodate
1000 men and women at one time,
house the exchanges various depart
ments There are three main divisions
for women and girls, for unskllled
working mon and boys, and for skilled
working men. The latter department is
suhdiyided into trades, with separate
quarters for the woodworking indus
try, smiths, bakers, painter, book
binders, plumbers. papcrhangers, leather
workers. plasterers, roofcrs, machInlsts,
butchers, street employees, GLACIERS,
elevated men. and printers.
Any unemployed person may invoke
the exchange S work finding facilities
upon payment Of n registration fee of
) cents. If the Job seeker be mem
her of any OF the trade unions which
contribute as organizations to the up
keep Of the exchange, he is exempt from
payment of the registration fee. For
a country famous for red tape, nmaz-
ingly few formalitics. and these OF the
sort. are required TO be gone
through. a man or woman steps up TO
n window like banltcller's and fills
an application form for registration, on
which 1t is required to state name, age,
whether married or single. last place of
emplovment. how long ont of work and
in what occupation last engaged. Upon
payment of the registration fee re-
ceipt for memberships card is issued,
which entities the holder 10 the privl-
leges of the exchange fer three months.
The exchange is open u spring, sum
mer and autumn from A. III. 10 6 p-
M, and in winter from a. IN. to p.
M. In the skilled trades, special hours
are set apart for various industries, so
that different trades may use the same
quarters at different times.
Main interest attaches to two great
halls set aside for unskilled men and
boys and for women and girls. AS one |
enters the imposing premises IN The |
Gormannstrasse the Saal for males un- |
employed is first reached. Spacious, |
nigh ccilineed and well lit, with bench !
seats for .l400 and standing room for |
800 more on n gallery running around
all four sides, it looks like a real es-
tate exchange, or the trading floor OF
l stock or grain mar ket,
Scattered here and there Mt regular
intervals were sign posts labelled
Younger Workmen, elder Work
men, etc, and seated III the immcdi-
lte vicinity were men and youths an"
wering those descriptions Each group
vas subdividcd by signs reading Jan
lary." February or /" March, in
licating the date at which the out-of-
works at those particular points had
aiken up, their fob vigil This throng
vas conspicuous for cleanliness, sobrie-
y and good humor. Here and there sat
ouples playing at draughts. Yonder
gray beard pulled contentedly Mt a
,ipe Across the hall at the exchange
antecn stood dozen fellows enjoying
heir midday mcal-coifec with milk
nd sugar for l cent, glass Of beer
or ! cent or sandwich. slice of sau
age, or portion of snlad at cents
piece Others were smoking canteen
igars rctailed ut three for . cents, or ,
igarettes at five for a cent, Those !
;ho had "dined'' were Willing their
ime away with newspapers and maga- {
ines furnished gratis by the exchange {
brarlaD. 6
A broad shouldered teamster came I
rom the boot repairing room, where :
lcmbers of the exchange, before start 4
lg out for Jobs, can have their foot /
ear repaired for / cent Next door /
as the tailor shop, where clothes are >
ended and cleaned for the same price
eGal advice is even cheaper, for the h