1893 - State Library Information Center

74 STATISTICS OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES.It wa8 asserted, with much force, that the laboring man out ofemployment could receive no benefit from private employmentagencies, however well they might bo managed, unless he hasmoney to pay for it. The laboring man who needs a .situationmost is the man without a dollar. He must sell his labor, starveor go to jail. Nothing is a greater strain on the morals of alaboring man than to be out of employment and money at thesame time. It is the first duty of government to make it easyfor people to do right, and hard lor them to do wrong.*The plea in behalf of public employment agencies was all themore favorably received by the representatives of the Bureaus ofLabor Statistics, because they were no new idea or untried experimenteven in this country. Free public employment oflices hadbeen established in Ohio under the act of April 28th, 181)0, in thecities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo,under the general supervision of the Commissioner of the Bureauof Labor Statistics, and found very beneficial both to employerand employe. They are intended to aid those seeking help oremployment all over the State, without expense to the applicants.The respective municipalities pay for the salaries of those managingthe several local employment agencies.The act is an amendment of the law creating the ofHce of theCommissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is as follows:Said commissioner is hereby authorized and directed, immediately after thepassage of this act, to organize and establish in ali cities of the first CIRHF,and cities of the first and second grade of the second clasa in the Bute of Ohio,a free public employment office, and siall appoint one superintendent for eachof said oflices to discharge the duties hereinafter set forth. Haid superintendentsshall cause to be posted in front of their said offices, on a sign-board or ina suitable place on the building where ouch offices are located, the words" free public employment office. 1 'It shall be the duty of such superintendent to receive aii applications for]abor of those desiring employment and those desiring to employ labor, andrecord their names in a book kept for that purpose, designating opposite thename of each applicant, the character of employment or labor desired, and theaddress of such applicant. Each of said superintendents shall be providedwith such clerical assistance as in the judgment of the commissioner may appearnecessary for properly conducting the duties of their several offices. No*Mr. Sovereign, Ninth National Convention of Labor Bureau Officials,