The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-12

Of Representatives.
The plan has certain very obvious
advantages as compared with a PROPOSE
ton already made for the csta bllshment
of separately organized labor exchanges
under the auspices Of tho Federal Gov
ernnent Were the latter scheme to he
carried into effect much expense would
necessarily he involved and as result
such exchanges would exist only in
large centres Of population, where they
would be relatively inaccessible to tho
people at large.
The post offices on the other hand
are everywhere, and each one of them
"a the centre of a local community. Fur
hcrmore they are plants already estab-
lished and in order to accomplish the
ends at which my bill aims it is neces-
sary merely TO extend their functions
somewhat.
IN other words the post offices ofSer
machinery ready to hand. They are
accessible to every person looking for
a lob and likewise to every man who
wants to hire help. Through them IL is
practicable to reach the rural commune
ties. A most important aim. inasmuch as
such communities may be expected to
furnish the employment which is to re-
ueve tho congestion of the unemployed
In the big cities.
The post offices offer ready and i'm
mediate means OF intercommunication
The Importance of this may be Illus
trated by parallel. 4 theatre has
tickets to sell. They are for sale at
number of different offices, all of which
Are trying to dispose Of the same tickets.
Il is necessary, obviously, that there
shall be prompt and ready communica-
ton between the various offices in order
that the same seats may not be sold
twice and Tor other reasons.
at i, much the same way with a sys-
TEN II labor exchanges. Some people
are applying for employment. others are
anxious 10 hire labor. Ready and inn
mediate means Of accommodation
among the exchanges Is necessary. The
most Offices already have such means at
thor disposed
Ms biz presCrtncs the establishments
or A system Of zones, the whole country
., bs divided into zones OF not more
Than 10000 square miles each. with
centra, post office in each case as
zone centre. According to the plan the
central office would have jurisdiction
over al the post offices within the limit
OF is zone.
Tho object Of this arrangement ~ 70
minimize cost of transportation. Wneh
avodabc it is not desirable that men
in need Of job should be shipped from
Chicago 10 Philadelphia or from 81
Louis To san Francisco. ON the otner
hand. the bill does provide Tor inc
transport alton Of laborers from con-
gestcd district to places where LABOR Is
In demand. and II Is proposed that inc
Government shall pay their fare II
necessary, the money to be after~ard
ref,inded by them out of their wages.
For a long time past | have taken
. keen interest in the problem or I'M
employment. which In my opinion Is TO-
day the most menacing symptom OF our
Industrial and social unrest. The DAN
ger TO he apprchended from 1t Is. in my
view, one that can hardly be overesti'
mated. Hence my proposition to es-
tshlsh national employment bureau
system which will bring the man or
woman in need of job into commune
cation with tho employer In want OF
help everywhere in the United states
The establishment of a separate sys-
ten, as suggested by tho Murdoch bill
with independent agencies or offices
would involve enormous cost. on the
other hand, II the post Offices be used for
the purpose the initial expense VIII
certainly not be greater than that which
was incurred in placing the postal saw
lngs system in operation.
Under the plan contemplated any
person desiring a position or help would
sppF % the local post office. illinG ar
application in duplicate on blanks fur
n'Shed for the purpose. The application
would be tackled mp in the office II
which II was filed. and if not filled with
IN Wonty-four hours a copy or 4
Would Ice mailed 10 the zone centre
which 40 turn would send II to ever,
post office Wlhin It's jurisdiction 10 HI
hNI.0 ned Thus an application II no
SATISFIED 10y the next day would b'
lorI. publicly kuown over an area o
lNVoD square miles
I' small town the postmaster coulC
t'"od to all of this business. hut in {
"s IS -pccial clerks would have to b,
employed for the purpose. All post
masters would 10y law be constituted
d'u, exchange agents, My bill provides
'"r 'l" tppuntmcnt Of salared persons
|" attend 70 such work where their ser
woes are required. but II creates NJ
POSITIONS until the labor to he performed
snail So demand.
IN D. not expected that the system
VIII nc an expense TO the Government
fH 1aaf . Il -