Arizona republican., 1915-05-31
FREE EMPLOYMENT
(Continued from Page One)


 the average made were based on those registered since I took charge of the i office
 ]! It is practically impossible to give 1 the occupations as people are classified ! in many lines of work, the greater pro- portion being ranch bands, skilled me | chanics being about per cent of the I whole.
 l | believe that the proportion regiSt- 1 cred in this office during the wear as i compared to the entire number out of i employment, those living in Phoenix or ! drifting in or out, to be about 40 per cent; or in other words, between H. 900 and 12.0OO persons were in Phoe- nix during the year, unemployed and seeking work-during the month of November fully 2.00O people were in such 2 position At the time I took the position, the European war had just started, the mines shut down, business houses curtailed expenses, banks tight ened up on loans, building operations practically ceased and farmers had no sale for their produce, labor suffered more than it's proportion many did not average days work per month, skilled mechanics, office men and others took
 
 an existence.
 The situation has now eased some what a large proportion getting back to the mines or going to other points, Phoenix not being on any main line se- cures better average grade of work CTS than most places, less of tbe bum. tramp or whfslley soak element
 The cffice was handicapped in many NNaNS from securing f1lI officiaocy fl,,r ing this period, from Aug. 10 to Dec. the telephone number was not in the phone book and the old number was in the name of an opposition employ ment concern. Since December we have had no advertisement calling the attention of the public to this depart ment, outside of a small sign on our bulletin board we have no way of iden- tifying the place: again, by an error of the phone company the wrong address was given in their book; regardless of these facts we believe that the office has proven itself a success to a great number of satisfied clients, both em- ployers and employees.
 knowledge of Spanish is neces- sary on account of the large percent age of Mexicans applying for work who speak no English or but very lit tie: also a knowledge of the city and county around likewise a person has to be familiar with the class of work of various occupations and especially ranch work
 As comparison of the amount of business transacted in this office as compared to Los Angeles free employ ment bureau. we find Los Angeles does approximately eight times as much business with population of 20 times our size. We have been unable to get the exact figures only that nearly 25O0 positions are given out each month based on the spring of 1914.
 The biggest proportion of the work done by the office cannot be shown on the records, such as advising appli- cants where to seek employment, tele- phoning to innumerable parties for ap- plicants, or to get those already listed fair average would be not less than 90 such calls per day besides renewing of applications We renew the applica- tions instead of registering; after a certain time cards are taken out of the active list unless the applicant calls at the office, therefore it is necessary to call frequently so as to keep the appli- cation alive.
 Inasmuch as the office is free pub lie institution, for the benefit of all, both those seeking help and those seek ing employment, active cooperation should be given by all to it's advance ment There is no question from hu- manitarium standpoint that it is a great help to the unemployed
 The old method of having people pay for a job is obsolete as well as wrong. Since the establishing of this office all private pay offices have gone out of existence with the exception of one, which is used merely as a side issue. As for those seeking employees cen tral labor exchange is an economy both in time and money. We do not offer a place to anyone until we secure a complete list of what the applicant for a position gives as his or her occupa- tion or class of work, then we fit that to the positions offered. We are more apt to get persons true fitness for position that way than by informing him or her of certain position and asking if he or she can fill it. as on ac- count of their desire or necessity for work the applicant conceiVes the abil- ity to fill the requirement. This cc- CUTS where labor is picked up on the outside or posted on bulletin boards. We believe that active cooperation of employers with us would raise the standard and efficiency of labor. Again, if those desiring labor of any kind, whether skilled, common, office or do mestic would notify the office suffi- ciently in advance as to their require ments in detail, more satisfactory re- suit would be accomplished as has been proven in numbeTless instances.
 We believe that a working mems Free Club, connected with the employ ment bureau would be a help both to the department as well as to the em ployed and unemployed men; a place fitted up plainly with tables, chairs and reading matter properly ventilated, | would cost but little: as it stands to- day there is no place in Phoenix where l the laboring man can go, where he can 1 feel comfortable and at ease. The | Public Library is too far out and at l the same time is not suitable for this |