New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-30
No Move Made to Have
City Act with Private
Charities.
BIG NUMBER IDLE,
mitchell ADMITS
Women Will Rise Up and Take
Employment, Leader Warns
Civic Hearers.

The question OF how the city can CO.
operate with private charitable organ-
cations TO care for women lacking en-
ployment was discussed yesterday py
Mayor Mitchell and others In the Mayor
reception room i'm the city Hall. AZ the
end Of the hearing it was announced that
the Mayor will decide later whether 10
appoint committee to investigate the
situation.
With the MAYOR were Commissioners
Kingsbury OF the Department Of Charl-
ties. President Marks OF the Borough OF
Manhattan. Dr. Henry Moskowitz, presi-
dent Of the Municipal Civil Service Com
mission: Commissioner OF Licenses Bell
City Chamberlain Bruere. Frederick ID.
Underwood president of the Erie Ran
road: Miss Rose Axelrod, representing a
COMMITTEE OF unemployed women; former
Labor Commissioner Charles F. NELL
Professor Henry r. Seager Or. waiter ~
Weyl DR.. Edward r. Devne, Miss Mary
Dreier. Miss Lillian d. Wald, Miss Apna
C. Hedges, Mrs. Sarah J. Atwood and the
Rev. Anna J. Allebach.
In his Introductory remarks Mr. Mitchell
said
This conference was called to consider
the present situation with reference TO
unemployment. a great many persons
seem {, feel that unemployment Is alb
normal this winter. BY the pessimistic
ones we are told that unemployment Is
increasing daily and the number Of I'M
emploved will continue to increase for
l., nftr 1nra 81
tic friends believe that already there are
signs of new life in the industrial held,
and that many will soon be given an op-
portunity 10 resume their usual occupa-
ton.
while there is no very accurate III
formation as 10 the extent and nature OF
unemployment, II is not necessary to rely
entirely on these casual impressions,
either Of the optimist or the pessimist.
According TO a recent bulletin or the Ne"
York State Department Of Labor. or oo''"o
organized wage earners there were lOl'li"
persons idle on September 30, 1913. Inc
bulletin states that. with one exception,
this is the greatest number or unem-
ployed reported in any year during the
last seventeen years, aid probably larger
than during any previous year. The pro-
norton Of unemployed-161 per cent-was
exceeded during the last seventeen years
only I'm 1908, when 1t was 20 per cent
Applying this percentage to the morgan
lied wage earners, It is estimated that the
total number of unemployed in New York
State on September 30, 1918, was 10000
II think we are all agreed that we have
some direct knowledge Of the unemployed,
either from the viewpoint OF employers or
from that OF employment agents. or from
that OF social workers | presume we
agree that there is, in fact, a greater
number Of unemployed right now than
usual. However, We are not concerned
lust now with the exact extent. nature or
cause of conditions, individually; we are
concerned with the situation. In general
we can say that thousands OF men and
women out of work are seeking employ
merit"
The Mayor then took up the municipal
lodging house side of the question. In
1901 there were sheltered $500; in
1e1t-r2, 47,S24; in 1928, $3.50 ana
I'm 1914 il jumped to 93,SO'.
Commissioner Kingsbury who followed
the Mayor. sought to explain why this
city finds so many unemployed persons on
it's hands The widespread philanthropy
here and the ease with which free food
and shelter are to be had were contribut-
ing causes. ne said. and he wants 10 per
feet system by which these things Will
be earned by the applicant.
II was suggested by Miss Frances KEEL
Ter that a central employment bureau be
established by the city.
There are 10000 unemployed womer-
in this city" said Miss Axelrod, who
will not recognize charity or the municipal
lodging house. II they cannot be given
help or work by the city they will rise
I'D and take work"