Evening star., 1916-08-06

Pauline B. Barfield has been made
superintendent of the division and In
Baltimore Grace Porter Hopkins. The
instructions to all officers are very
clear: Applicants must be classified
as to age so that only those over the
age of sixteen shall be considered for
or directed to employment. all those
approaching as well as above the latter
age shall be given the information on
hand in aid of vocational selection and
training"
It Is also directed that opportunities
should be classified in accordance with
the practice followed in public en-
ployment Offices in the vicinity, if any
exist II not. then according to the
trades and vocations there established.
and should be divided In three classes
temporary, seasonal and permanent
Applicants should be given infor-
nation about opportunities listed, and
should be advised for placement, ac-
cording to their abilities and training,
with a view to their advancement to
better opportunities and their progress
in efficiency as wage -earners."
The policy of the women and girls
division will be not only to direct and
assist in finding employment for its
applicants. but to continue it's inter
est in them after they have been pro-
vided for. not losing sight of them,
but through the supervision of the
nearest local officer from time to time
communicating with them, looking
after their advancement and giving
them advice when desired.
No applicant should be advised to
leave one locality, however. to find
work elsewhere, unless there is definite
knowledge of the conditions existing
in places seeking woman workers. And
careful records should be kept show
ing complete industrial history of each
applicant to disclose her experience
and capacity.
The plan for this division is SO thor
ough that Uncle Sam virtually consti-
tutes himself a sort of official chaperon
for the woman and girl wage learners of
the United States. Off 1t is under
stood that no woman or girl is to be
directed to an opportunity unless the
character of the place to which ad-
dressed and the character of the en-
ployer have been established to the sat
isfaction of the superintendent or
other officer in charge of the division"
1t is also understood that in directing
women and girls to employment extreme
care is to be exercised to prevent the
sending of wage-earners to localities
where labor troubles exist or to places
where labor conditions would be thereby
disturbed. Thus. in acting as chaperon,
Uncle Sam wishes it distinctly under
stood that where there are parents their
cooperation is desired and asked. that to-
gether they may solve the problems OF
those under or passed the age of sixteen
In case the young girl Is under sixteen
she is advised to pursue such a course OF
elementary and vocational educa ton as
may be ca1cula ted to develop her abilities
In lines of industry for which she seems
best fitted.
Or, if the applicant has passed the
required age limit and is still at school.
she should be urged to continue and an
appeal made to parents and guardians to
that effect This division is not only
for those engaged in manual work, but Is
also for teachers, students, skilled work
men and persons of every class who need
assistance toward employment and choos-
ing means of betterment in work.
X
Since the formation of the women and
girls division of the. United States en-
ployment service there has been bill in
troduced in Congress for the establish
ment in the Department of Labor of a
division, to be under the direction and
control of the Secretary of Labor. 1t
provides that this division shall be under
a chief, a woman, to be appointed by the
Secretary of Labor, with a salary of
s3.500.
The purpose of this proposed division is
practically identical with the division al
ready established, its purpose being to in
vestigate and report to the Department of
labor upon all matters appertaining to the