New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-26
Both Federal and City Au-
thOrities at Work to
Meet Situation.
EMPLOYMENT BUREAU
IN EACH POSTOFFICE
Expert to Catalogue Employers
and Workers-Large De-
mand for DOmestics.


the European war has been taken up
by both the federal and the municipal
authorities. An unobtrusive prepara-
tory campaign has been going on for
weeks From the outbreak Of the war
grave fears have been expressed as to
what effect the coming winter might
have on the labor market. The outlook
at the present time is most hopeful.
Many anticipated that long before
this New York would have a knotty
problem on its hands. The first kink
has not yet developed. Optimists are
even beginning 10 prophesy that, so far
as unskilled labor is concerned, New
York may be better of this year than
ever before. At any rate, the brunt
will be borne by employees Of the cleri-
cal class. At present not more than a
dozen men day are applying ut the
employment bureau established last
year in Lafayette st. under the iuris-
Giction of the Department of Licenses.
The danger is not yet passed by any
means, and officials are inclined TO
sound a warning 20 families of mod
crate on precarious means to lay by
every spare dime. The end Of the
harvest season IN the West and the
coming Of cold weather mark the be
ginning of the anxious period.
1--WE are not worrying for minute"
said Walter il. Sears, the new superin-
tendent Of the public employment bu-
reau. 81 don't mean, of course, that we
expect TO supply work TO every man
who applies here, but We arc taking
al ,V,aiN anil n
are confident Of success"
Mr.. Sears took charge OF the employ
ment bureau in New York on Septem-
Der Is. For eight years he had directed
the State Free Employment Office in
Boston.
Success in Boston.
His system consists of cataloguing
all worthy applicants and trustworthy.
employers. After that it is merely a
question Of matching the cards in the
employees file with those in the en-
ployers' file. In the files Of the Boston
Office when Mr.. Sears left we're the
LANES OF $4,000 individual employers:
They we're in twenty-three states and
from Canada. The voorhees, who ap-
piled II him were distributed all over
the country. For good proportion OF
them he found work in New York cry
In tine Mr.. Sears intends 10 have his
present Office in Lafayette ST. me neag-
quarters of q system which will include
ten or a dozen employment Offices in
The boroughs. The main ONCE viii then
be used as a training school for the
managers and clerks OF the local
branches. It vii, be a strictly business
institution and no charity in any sense
Of the word a.u
."The first step" he explained, "wil.
no To keen out Of New York the army
Of the lazy and shiftless who flock TO
chr charities as soon as the nrst colo
erar comes. There will be many ul-
usual difficulties TO contend with.
Building operations, TO a certain eN-
tpnt. will necessarily De curtalled' a
considerable number OF workmen are
olvavs Affected by seasonal hUctuatioLs
IN lie labor market. Production Will
Giminish in proportion to the earning
cape eity Of the consumer. The polcy
Of retrenchment adopted by the. clty
will have it's effect on general labor
Tn, Department Of Labor in Wash
inotsn took extraordinary steps weeks
AGO TO put employer and employe IN
closer touch. A plan OF cooperation
was effected xith the Postoffce Depart
mem, whereby every postmaster IN tae
United States will keep on hand blanks
If the Division OF Information or the
Bureau Of Immigration, and issue thsnI
10 applicants during ONCE hours;
Other measures were ADOPTED 80
tori the work of the Division OF In
formation in the matter OF the en-
riovment and distribution OF labor so
Tar a. IL relates 70 farm or other Tural
nccnpations. Eighteen distibutlon
aones. with twenty-five sub branches
coverino. the entire United States, nave
beon established. Officers OF the I'M
1,io1ation service will attend to TINS
work.
Department to Cooperate.
The Department OF Agriculture has
agreed to cooperate. Many news
pspers, both in English and foreign
languages, will publish free OF charge
brief notices of opportunities Tor en-
Mrs S. J. Atwood, whose employment
Office at II State ST. is widely known,
takes an optimistic view OF the l"oor
situation.
cerned," she said, ii think the demand
will be ABOUT a. Bleab 40 s"D ~ ~
Thousands of reservists have gone back
20 Europe because Of the war. Nearly
all OF them were Of the lsboring class.
The war has cut down the immigra-
ton. | haven't seen brand new imml-
grant for weeks.
"The closing Of factories seems TO
have been due 70 fear rather than 10
any actual bad effects from the war.
At any rate, a good many Of them are
running again. had three or -FOUR toy,
repair shops on my list. They closed
when war was declared, but they are
open again now, not as repair shops
but as toy factories. | have my instruc-
tions to send them every skilled toy
maker can lay my hands on.
"The oversupply of labor during the
winter is largely due to our short
sighted public contract policy. In the
letting of such contracts there Is never
anv stipulation that the work shall give
steady employment. The contractors
rush their work during the warm
weather and let up during the winter.
Cuarry work. grading and many other
kinds of work, however, can go on az
we'll during the winter as during the
summer.
"The Southern Railway and the Sea
board Air Line both have work under