South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-13
UNCLE SAM MAY
FIND MEN JOBS
National Employment Agency
with PoStOffiCeS as Sub
agencies Said to be the Plan
of the Democrats.
star Correspondence to The News

nitely learned that democratic mem
bers OF the house committee on labor
are preparing 20 introduce into the
house what may prove TO be one n
the most important labor measures
ever placed before that body.
The bin in question is believed 70
be the plan Of James Eads How. the
millionaire hobo" How has just
left Washington after a series of con-
ferences with Rep. John ]. Nolan OF
California, and Rep. David j. Lewis
Of Maryland. both of whom are mem
bers OF the labor committee and both
union men. How also conferred with
Postmaster General BurlesOn. He
urged on them the consideration by
congress Of a bill 90 establish a ma
tiOnal employment bureau" And at
the present time. il looks very much
as II this purpose would be success
full.
Although the fact has not yet been
made public. IL is learned that both
Cong. Lewis and Nolan now have
under consideration drafts Of such a
proposed bill. and that such legisla
tion has been seriously discussed with
a number OF well known social work
ers and economists who are the real
authors of the bill.
Many Interested.
IL is also understood that the men
behind this move have interested
Secretary OF Labor w. b. Wilson and
Assistant Secretary Louis r. Post in
the subject. and that Postmaster Cen
erai BurlesOn is giving serious atten-
tion 10 the matter Assistant Score
tary Post has promised his active
support.
The proposed bill while il embed
les principle which has been in sue
cessful operation for years in foreign
cOuntries-notably Germany and Eng
1and-as well as in a number of states
of the union. is nevertheless sweeping
and revolutionary in its effect. The
bill proposes TO establish a national
employment bureau, under the super
vision OF the department Of labor.
using the postOffices all over the coun-
try as labor employment bureaus. Ger
tain first or second class pOstOffices in
the larger cities will be designated as
central labor exchanges" for speci-
fed districts which will include all
the third and fourth class pOstoffices
within a given radius.
Workers seeking positions may file
with their local postmaster or post
mistress an application on a prescrib-
ed form stating the kind OF position
desired, their qualifications and eXper-
fence and other necessary informa-
ton.
Employers in need of workers sim
ilarly may file with the postmaster
statement showing the positions open.
II at the end OF "a hours workers
application has not secured him
position in the local labor market"
his application is to be forwarded to
the central labor exchange for his
district and there posted and sent out
TO all the pOstOffices in that district.
II at the end Of a week. he is still out
OF employment. his application goes
10 still larger zone or departing
and from there after a specified time
10 the national labor exchange. which.
under the plan proposed. publishes
a weekly or monthly bulletin showing
all applicants for positions and all
positions open.
The effect of this scheme gives an
automatically widening field to the
worker and the employer in which
TO secure or I'LL a position. The work
er is thus automatically placed i'm
touch with the job nearest his home
The employer is enabled TO fH posi-
tiOns with workers closest at hand
Any proposed bill on this subject is
sure 10 contain provision barring
from the use of the exchange any per-
son, firm or corporation against whom
its employees are striking. or where a
strike vote is being taken pfvpaiu
tory 10 a strike. Thus the exchange
could not be used as a strikehreaking
are now used.
Would Cost Nothing.
Outside Of its obvious advantages
in bringing into immediate contact
workers and employers. one other
great advantage would he that the
service would cost nothing to it's bene-
ficiaries. The expense Of handling the
system would be surprisingly small
according 20 those who have studied
the question. In the local country
postoffiCe. for instance the three or
four applications a day which the
postmaster might receive could he
handled by him in the ordinary course
81 his work. In larger pOstoiliCes
this work might require the services
Of a special clerk. but in no case could
the expense be very great In the
case OF private agencies. the appli-
cant must frequently pay a fee to
register, varying from 81 90 50 and
then pay percentage. usually five
percent OF the first years salary. 90
the agency.
Another important feature ~ such
system would Iu it's effect oD rnc
white slave" trafi" For Instance. q
country girl fesirIl- acr l.roDut iu
the city instead CT trusting 30 chance.
as she does now. anl perhaps being
without employmer Tor several weeks
or months meanwhile the object or
white slaVers would know before
leaving her home where her employ
ment was 70 ho. her salary and rne
character Of the work. Besides this.
white slaVPrS vh. atre-rrtei Ri. use
the service would face two renaIti. e
the penalty under tr. Mann act
and also q penalty f.r using the mails
<ar improper purposes.
II will readily he seen also hoW
this proposed labor exchange C.rfl re
used for the purpose - crfaF..ng
state and national laws n C-,1rt.Dg and
safeguarding the emp ovratnr 20
workers The federaI dcnartmcrt
could refuse the use Of the service T.
employers convicted Cf violations IF
ordinances prescribing fire escapes.
protection OF dangerous machinery
and so on.
The proposed bin viii 60 IN eithe~
at the present session. or if not COM
pleted in time. then at the session
which opens an Decent er.