Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-30
Federal Employment Bu-
Reau Reports Demand
That Cannot Be Met
WAR AND IT'S SEQUENCE
CONTRAST IN CONDITIONS
OF LABOR NOW AND IN 1914

Philadelphia is facing a labor problem.
whether II Is one of labor distribution
or OF a shortage in the supply caused by
the war in Europe is question upon
which there is great diversity OF opinion,
vet the fact remains that unskilled labor
in this city is now bringing from s225 to
$3.50 day, as against sl75 to $500 a
year ago.
The Federal Employment Bureau, at
1925 South I'd street. has in the neighbor-
hood of 700 opportunities for laborers,
and Is unable to obtain applicants for
the places Other employment bureaus
of the city are unanimous in reporting
similar shortage of skilled and unskilled
laborers. Labor leaders are besieged
with applications from contractors, large
companies and corporations, all desirous
OF recruiting men to carry on their vari-
Gus projects.
In view of these conditions, II is>signifi-
cant 10 notice that during the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1914 there were 1,2I3, ,4SO
Immigrant aliens admitted to this country
while during the fiscal year ending June
SO 1915, there were only 1926, 700 immigrant
aliens admitted. During the former period
1S4,4SS immigrants were admitted to the
state of Pennsylvania, but during the
fiscal year J,.5t ended this number drop
ped to 24.596
immigration authorities point out that
whereas 173,20S skilled laborers came to
the United States during the fiscal year
ending in June, 1914, only 5563S were ad-
mitted during the past fiscal year. I'm
skilled laborers numbered 226.407 and farm
laborers 22S, SOB during the CORNER period,
and only 1881 and "a, ,723 'yspectively, in
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1915. Dur
ing the last named period Philadelphia
received only 7l14 immigrant aliens, male
and female.
1t is freely predicted in many quarters
that the present conditions will prevail
until the termination Nf the war in Eu-
rope, when, 1t is said, the labor market
of the United States will be literally
swamped with flood of immigration.
Commissioner Elmer e. Greenawalt. of
the immigration station of this city, does
not agree with such opinions.
at must be remembered" he said, that
our laws will debar all men who have
been crippled from coming to this country
as immigrants, and i'm my opinion the
strong uninjured men will be detained in
Europe, either Though patriotism or 9TH
erwise, to help IN the work of rehabili-
tating their respective countries. Nor do
think we will have great numbers OF
widows and orphans immigrating, for our
laws will not admit such people to this
country as have no apparent means OF
making livelihood"
Commissioner Greenawalt is also OF the
opinion thst this country will be bene.
fted by the reduction in immigration, as
serting that in the past alien immigrants
have been admitted to this country IN
such numbers that it has been impossible
TO assimilate them.
Frank di Berardino. of S2l Christian
street, one of the most influential Italians
in this city and a man who is conceded
by all authorities to know much of Ital.
ian labor problems, asserts that the re.
- 1At III.
stands will be that companies and cor.
porations will not carry out any large
projects requiring laborers until the sit
uation is relieved.