Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-29
Federal Aid in Finding Jobs
BY Frederic j. Haskin

carious employment in private homes.
Needless to say, there are also thous.
ands OF homes that want their ser.
vices.
The positions found by women are
by no means limited to those in domes.
tic service. For example. there are
thousands OF large farms and ranches
in all parts Of the United States which
maintain excellent business organiza-
tons. They need stenographers and
clerks just as badly as city firms, but
they have great deal more trouble in
getting them. The government en-
ployment bureau has found congenial
work in the country for many women
and girls who gained their clerical
training in the cities and who desire
the healthier life of the country. Again,
the employment bureau has enabled
smell country stores to obtain en-
ployes trained in city methods of sales
manship. In the class of unframed
labor, women and girls have been
found especially valuable for picking
aud Grating fine fruits.
One important effect of the govern
ment work, and one which will prob
ably become more important In the
future. is to enable workers to get
fairer wages. This does not take the
form SO much of raise in the scale
OF pay, as OF Standardization Of
wages. The amount paid for farm labor
has been too high In some sections,
too low in Others. A rapid shifting of
the working force in accordance with
demand and supply has naturally tend
ed to make the wages paid more uni
form and therefore fairer. At first ap-
plications were often received for farm
labor at from IS to So per month. Far.
mers offered these wages because they
had been accustomed to pay them.
Now they are learning that competent
help can not be obtained at such a rate.
Wherever possible, the government
bureau Is cooperating with those main
tained by cities and states. In many
cases the efficiency OF these lesser bu-
reaus has been greatly increased by
the federal aid and It is believed many
Of the local agencies will eventually
be combined with the national one.
Thus in Chicago the government is CO.
operating with both city and a state
bureau, and it is planned to combine
all three as soon as possible. ~
or course there are inevitable diff
culties in this effort to find the right
place for the right woman. Some Of
the servants placed by the federal SER
vice have proved ineficient and some
of the positions in which they have
been placed have since been listed as
undesirable. But as the work goes for
ward, a great body Of information
about employers and employees is be-
ing gathered. In the course of years,
every maid and every mistress in the
country may have government rating.
All possible precautions are now be-
ing taken to insure mutual satisfac-
ton. The honesty and good character
of each applicant for a place must be
vouched for by at least two reliable
persons. and there references are al
ways looked up. The employer Is the
subject Of an equally careful inquiry.
and special care Is taken that girls and
women may not be placed in undesir-
able positions. Inspection agents are
kept in the field for this purpose.
The service Of the government en-
ployment bureau is not limited to
adults Boys and girls of suitable age
may also apply for work. The Offices
In San Francisco and Chicago have
helped a number Of country girls to
find employment in those cities. The
women agents have in all cases taken
personal interest in these girls and
have aided them in finding homes as
well as employment.