New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
Unemployed Throng to
New City Exchange,
Which Places 500.
COOKS, TAILORS AND
INTERPRETER IN LINE
Unions Say Men Out of work
Far Outnumber Those in
Previous Years.

At the close OF the first day Of business
tho CITY employment exchange, at NO. ~
LAFAYETTE street. had found places for
more than FIVE hundred men. All OF them
were nut 10 work shovelling snow
Every man who appeared and announced
himself as willing TO shovel snow iouh"
a place. The snow problem forced the
bureau 10 shelve all other work. although
147 skilled men were among those who an
piled. These included cooks drivers car
penters. clerks, blacksmiths, tailors ana
men in many other lines. There was one
asbestos worker. "A telegraph operator
and an Interpreter who said that he I'M
derstood FIVE languages.
Many OF these asserted their willingness
10 shovel snow and were given work. The
others were asked to return when the
problem of snow removal had been dis
posed Of The only woman to apply was
stenographer Among the men given
work we're two hundred seamen from the
Seamens Church Institute. at No. %
South street
Yesterdays showing, IL was explained,
must not be taken as a criterion Of what
the department can do. Augustus Regain.
superintendent Of the bureau, admitted
that the snowfall had been opportune IN
so far as the new exchange was con-
cerned and that there was no method Of
telling how the plan would work out
under normal conditions.
The new bureau will act as a clearing
house for the private employment
agencies throughout the city. When an
agency has jobs but no men it will be
put in touch with an agency that can
furnish men but has not the jobs. 1t will
also itself act as an agency, referring
applicants directly TO employers.
Some of the applicants yesterday were
referred to agencies that had put in calls
for snow shovellers. and many expressed
surprise when the agency requested tee
for placing a man. In one case the tax
asked was 90 cents, which is the amount
paid an hour TO snow shovelers. A num-
Der of the men refused TO pay and re-
turned to the bureau, demanding other
employment
1t was said that the PENNSYLVANIA Rail
road had asked a private agency for two
thousand men. but baked when the
agency demanded fee of 80 cents each.
Late last night the railroad was said 10
be still looking for men.
Mr.. Regain said that il was planned TO
reopen the bureau at 6 o'clock this morn
ing and KEEP it open all day. Only snow
shovellers will be placed
The question of unemployment was dis
cussed yesterday by delegates Of unions
in the principal trades represented in the
Central Federated Union. and statements
were made by number of the delegates
which tended to show that while In most
Of the miscellaneous trades there were
indications Of returning activity. there
was still great stagnation in the build
ing industry.
1t was said that more men than usual,
even for this season OF the year, were
idle. John GIL, delegate Of the local
unions of bricklayers, said that there
were 1900 bricklayers in this city and
of these 60 per cent were now idle OF
22,0 900 carpenters in the city 30 per cent
were idle he said, and a like percentage
OF granite cutters were idle.