The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-07
THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES.
Defense of the Men Who Are in Bust
ness in Kansas.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
On April Is we read in the morning
paper an article written by Chas. B.
Harris of the state free employment of
flee in which he proposes to bring be-
fore the next legislature a bill to regu-
late the employment business in Kan
saS. He proposes to have the men en-
gagged in this business pay a license of
$50 per year and each applicant or per-
son who is furnished work by the agent
must pay a fee of 81 and if not fur
nished work within 80 days the money
paid must be returned. Evidently Mr..
Harris knows but very little as to how
an employment office is conducted
aside from the one he holds which is
simply to draw his $1,000 per year and
in addition $500 for postage.
Who ever heard Of a man, after pay
ing his office fee, of having to wait so
days before getting employment. This
perhaps might be true should he apply
to Mr.. Harris for work, but to the man
who makes a business and depends on
the receipts of his office to make his
living there need be no 80 day limit
and is none, for if the place is filed TO
which the applicant is sent the agent
who is honest and expects to stay in
the business at once hands the money
back and does not even ask him 10
take another place.
While in Kansas there perhaps may
be men engaged in the business who are
llOI WIidL they SIIOuIO D0 as honesty,
on the other hand, there are plenty of
employment agents who are perhaps as
honest as Mr.. Harris and who have
done lots of good, not only to the work
ing man, but to the employer as well.
1t Is fact which is generally known
that the state free employment office,
not only in Kansas, but in other states
as we'll, Is not regarded as much of a
labor market and I will venture to say
that any agent who has an established
business sends out 70 per cent more
men than is sent by the great state
free employment man who looks WISE
drawing his money just the same
whether he sends out % men a year or
1000. He also says the fee charged
shall be 81, to all alike, which would be
very unfair. For instance, a girl for
private homework who is paid from SO
to 50 per week applies for a place, 81 is
as small fee as is ever charged. The
next applicant is a cook or professional
man who is paid a salary Of from $50
to $l25 per month. Would it be fair to
charge them the same fee? While there
is such a great difference in the salary
on account of the wages paid in differ
ent lines Of work 10 per cent of the first
months salary is paid as office fee
either in cash and many cases where
the applicant has no money an order
is signed for the amount to be deduct
ed from the wages and paid by the
employer. In fact one-half of the bust
ness done the agent must wait for the
money until it is earned SO there is not
much chance of any fake" as Mr..
Harris terms the employment agencies.
l have talked with men who have
applied to the free employment office
for help and after a very long time
If they wanted to know anything
or learn why their order had not been
filled would have to call up Mr.. Harris
to find out why no one had been sent.
Not so with the man who has to depend
on the amount of business he does for
his pay: he will make every effort pos
sible to fill the places with the best
help that can be found and many en-
ployers depend greatly on the judgment
of the agent in hiring help, knowing
that he should be able to Judge what
the applicants are from their general
appearance. Don't think any of the
employment men are making any OBJ
lection to the office which Mr. Harris
holds which is known to be of very
little good to any one except himself
and think if there should be any
changes made in the way of regulating
the employment business it should be
to abolish the office the gentleman now
holds. However, we must say Mr.. Har-
riS is very considerable and surely has
much sympathy for the working class
and had it not been for his efforts in
the past year the working class would
have been terribly misused.
r. ]. KEARNEY.