Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-24
FEMALE AGENCIES
ARE NOT EXEMPT
FROM PAVING FEE
Employment Agency Act
Makes No Distinction
Effective May 22

no distinction as between emplovment
agencies as to classification or exemn.
tion, agencies which DO IN exclusive
business in the securing of employment
for women are not to be exempted from
paying the annual license fee under the
provisions of the employment agency
license and regulation act, according 10
the Interpretation Of Labor Commission.
er H0ff who has supervisory iurisdie.
tion over the enforcement Of The law
Mr.. Hoff also declares that the law win
be rigidly enforced on and after Nav
%, when effective.
The question was raised bv the
Howe's ladies employment agency. of
Portland, the proprietor of which made
inquiry of Commissioner Hoff as 10
whtther that agency would be exempt
from paying the annual license fee of
500 because of the fact that employ
ment was secured exclusively for the
benefit of females. Commissioner Hoff
notified the agency that no exemptions
whatever were provided for in the act
and that an exception could not be
made in favor of exclusively ladies,
agencies as it would be open discrim.
ination. This agency also wanted TO
know if it would be privileged to re.
main open until June l, presumably be.
cause its city license does not expire
until that date, but Mr.. Hoff Informed
the proprietor that the law goes into
effect on May % and that he had no
discretion in the matter and could not
stretch the point in favorof any agency.
Up to date an even dozen requests for
application blanks have been received
by Labor Commissioner Hoff from
agencies all over the state desiring to
take out licenses and comply with the
law and formal applications for licenses
have been received from five employ.
ment agencies. All are accompanied 6y
the required bond and check for the
amount of license, which are governed
by the population Of the town or city
in which the agencies are engaged in
business.
The employment agencies regulatory
act, which is designated as Chapter 12S
of the general laws for 1915, provides
that "every person who procures en-
polyment or help for another or furnish.
es intelligence or information for per.
sons securing employment or help for
compensation, shall be deemed an en-.
ployment agent" and subject to the
| provisions Of the act. 1t prcscribes a
fixed scehdule of fees to be charged by
employment agents for procuring EN-.
ployment or positions for both male and
female employees, based upon the
amount of wages or salaries TO be re.
ceived. The fees to be charged for Sc.
curing positions for females, where the
salary to be received is not to exceed
$50 per month and males, whore the
salary is not to exceed 500 per month;
D per cent Of one month Is earnings in
said position; for females, whore the
salary is $50 and not more than Sl0O
per month, n fee Of $5 is allowed, and
likewise for males receiving salaries
over $50 and not to exceed 800, and in
no case shall the fec exceed $3.50.
Licenses are to be paid annually and
employment agents are also required TO
furnish bonds subject to the approval
Of the labor commissioner. The amount
Of license fee to be paid and bond to be
furnished are graduated in proportion
to the population Of the city or town
in which the agency maintains its Of.
flee and principal place Of business.
ranging from fee Of $3.50 and bond of
800 in cities less than $500 population,
based upon the last U. s. census, 10 a
fee Of $50 and bond Of 90 for cities
Of population Of 100000 or over. sa.
lem comes within the classification Of
cities Of 10000 to 10000 which carries
n license fee Of $3.50 per year and bond
in the amount Of $3.50.