The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
DR. EDMONDS TELLS OF BUREAUS WORK Answers Criticisms Made of Certain Features of
 Getting Jobs

The Rev. pr. H. M. Edmonds has Is- sued the following statement regarding the work of the city employment bureau
 q have heard that there has been some criticism of the City Employment bureau of Birmingham because it has charged 50 cents for registration and sought to col lect 10 per cent of the first months sal ary arising out of positions secured.
 "I would say with reference to these matters that Mir. Mason J billiard, Mir. Hugh Latimer and I began the bureau purely as beneficent endeavor and have continued 1t so. We have tried to make 1t pay expenses but have never quite suc- ceeded in doing so. The three of us are now on a note for S75 for running expenses and I personally am on another note for like amount. In addition to this I have contributed 80 in cash and members of my church have contributed $35 at differ- ent times. In addition to this, members of my church gave s1s to assist an old man who was sent out on job and failing to find the place suffered some financial loss
 "The 50-cent registration fee was charged because a great many people merely passing through town would regis ter and then when we secured them po- stions we would find them gone on to some other place. We thought that this method would prevent indiscriminate reg istration. Further. these people generally have no phones and we have to send a messenger to get them. and their refer- ences require monetary expenses for fn- vestigaticn. Further, when anybody hasn't the 50 cents. 1t isn't charged Last month out of 300 applying, 20 paid the 90 cents. In fact, our applicants have been so many that we were asked to leave the American Trust building on that account. And incidentally our expenses were there by increased. as we had been sharing the offices and the phone of the South High land Presbyterian church.
 "As to the 10 per cent of the first months salary. we have simply used that as a method of livelihood. The bureau has no sort of financial backing or re- sources and has to live. Further, we thought that 1t was not an unwise or an unjust thing to allow the people benefited to contribute a part to the support of the institution We have sought to make It a benencent institution rather than a charitable one, and these matters have ell been explained in every instance when people have applied.
 Since the middle of July we have se- cured about 300 permanent positions and about an equal number of temporary posi- tions In addition to these we have helped a considerable number who have seemed to demand it. During the last month we fed 30; clothed 35; sent two to hospitals arJ fxx,o vya UOt two out of jail and put them to work; we sent about 50 to the Pisgah Home and Is to the Salvation Army and Volunteers of America.
 This whole business originated out of the fact that when I began to use down. town office many people applied to me in distress because out of work. I soon found that I was submerged with appeals which I could not answer and could not turn down. Hence the bureau.
 we have worked in conjunction with Mrs SeariRht of the city welfare depart ment Pisgah Home, the Salvation Army and the Associated Charities.
 'T have hoped that the Associated Char ites or the city might take over this en- terprise and I should be pleased if either would do it today. The only thing that I am anxious to do Is to have some way in which to relieve myself Of the obligation of giving at least some of the idle men and women fin Birmingham chance to work.
 "We have doubtless made mistakes in the conduct of this matter. but our inten- tions have at least been unselfish
 "As for Mrs. Pittman. who is now in charge of the work, have watched her closely and I regard her as real asset to the social forces of Birmingham. She has unusual discernment, unusual firm ness unusual business capacity and un- usual sympathy. Sircere'v written.
 "H. M. EDMONDS.''