Evening journal., 1919-02-01
COMPULSORY WORK
BUREAU CLOSES
Director Hoch Recommends
Law to Compel Men With
Dependents to Labor
HAD SECURED GOOD
RESULTS DURING WAR

Harry X Hooh, well known attorney.
who since November has been state
Director OF the Compulsory Work
Bureau, closed the bureau YESTERDAY
This bureau was conducted under the
auspices Of the STATE Council Of Dc
fense.
In statement issued by NJ. Hoch
in closing the office, he says that while
this war lime measure Is too drastic
for peace times, he would recommend
that a modified form OF the compul-
sorry work legislation be enacted 10
compel men 10 work who have de-
pendcn,s. The statement follows:
"The Compulsory Work Bureau Of
the State Council OF Defense closed is
offices yeste day In accordance with
the Resolution Of the Defense Council
OF December 30. The Bureau ever SINCE
June 1, has been actively enjoyed In
inducing men 10 seek work and, y
necessary. compel them to work At
their Jobs regularly and continuously.
This meant that a man was not per-
mitted 10 knock or two or th-el days
each week whenever he so desired. The
working forces OF the State. for The
purpose OF ~ Z hlng materials for the
maintenance OF the u. 5. Army. had
been reduced almost 10 a minimum.
at least was approaching a minimum.
and Il was absolutely essential that
men WHO were not in the army o. navy
should be mob llzed and utilized In the
most efficient manner conceivable. In
order 10 turn out the maximum amount
OF products for the execution and
carrying on OF the war.
The spirit OF the times was bound TO
work some hardships on each indlvid-
ual. Idle and indolent men who had
never worked, and Who. whether they
had dependents, OF d not have any
one dependent upon them for support
were compelled 10 work by the Com
pulsory Work Bureau. not because Of
any duty 10 provide for themselves and
their families. but because OF thelr
duty 10 the State under whose laws
these individuals sought protection OF
life and property from enemies. either
foreign OF domestic. and the State now
called upon them through the Compul-
sorry Work Bureau for regular and con-
tlnuous work.
Retired men, men OF wealth. who
had not been employed in any occupa-
/ ton. but had been living from their In
comes and who likewise sought pro-
tectlon under the laws OF the State
were requested 10 seek some occupa
ton during the emergency The idler
the loafer. the floater. the Stacker
whether rich or poor. were summonei
to the bureau and directed 70 secur
employment.
The approaching scarcity OF men pro
b duced. problem which the General As
, sembiy at Dover deemed Il advisabl
= to meet by compelling regular and cor
tinuous work by ell men, not so EN-
ployed.
The reason for the creation Of tn
Compulsory Work Bureau no longe
exists. The Governor. therefore. issue'
a proclamation January "a. 1919. caus
ing the Compulso y Work Bureau 4
close up its work as soon as possible
and cease operation.
Three thousand men, so called idler:
4 and slackers, were summoned before
the director OF the Compulsory Work
Bureau between June 4. 1918. and
, February 4. 1919, and their cases In
vestlgated. The majority OF the men
/ responded nobly and produced q large
force OF working men. who had other
wise been in the habit OF loanng the
3 greater part OF their time. II was
necessary for the director OF the bureau
, TO assign about four hundred OF tho
three thousand men TO some definite
work. and 10 follow very closely the
I time which they made. Il was neces-
sary TO prosecute almost one hundred
OF these four hundred assigned cases.
and convictions were obtained In about
flfty cases. The other flfty men. upon
their promise 10 work more regularly.
were given another opportunity by the
court, aDd in many instances made
good The small percentage OF cases
which 10 was necessary for the bureau
TO prosecute, as compared 10 the large
number OF men brought 70 the bureaus
attention, indicates In a slight way the
effective operation OF the bureau. Fab.
ers. wives. mothers. children, employ
ment managers OF various plants and
interested people OF the State have
! testified In various ways as to the re-
markable good which this piece OF
! legislation accomplished and have like