991785

991785

OFFICE OF [SEAL OF WESTERN CENTRAL LABOR UNION] The Western Central Labor Union Corner Madison and Front Streets UP STAIRS

Seattle Washington, Dec. 3rd 1894

To the Honorable City Council of the City of Seattle:

Gentlemen:- The Western Central Labor Union having urged the estalishment of the Free Public Employment Office naturally feel a pride in seeing it decently equipped for the transaction of business with the public. We are fully justified in believing that all right thinking persons, whether affiliated with our organization or not, entertain the same sentiment.

It is no misuse of language to say that the quarters occupied by the office at present are not calculated to give it either patronage or respect, in short if it had been designed to bring it into public contempt its surroundings and appointments couldu scarcely have been better designed for that purpose.

For the purpose of measuring the usefulness of the office and maintaining for it some degree of public respect we pledge our best efforts in endeavoring to secure better, more commodious and more decent accomodations for the transaction of the important business for which it was instituted. We feel confident that the city will lose nothing either in dignity or self-respect

991785

OFFICE OF [SEAL OF WESTERN CENTRAL LABOR UNION] The Western Central Labor Union Corner Madison and Front Streets UP STAIRS

Seattle, Washington, __________________ 189 _____

by substituting, in a common effort with organized labor, a neat and substantial structure for the dingy and forbidding quarters now occupied by the office, and to this end we make the following proposition.

If the city will furnish all material necessary for the erection of a building suitable for said office on the lot now occupied by the present shack we will furnish all labor free of cost to the city that is necessary to build a brick building of the following dimensions: One story in height, 40 feet frontage by 20 feet deep, to be partitioned off in such manner as will make the building convenient for the public, building to be constructed according to city ordinance.

We present the following plan of building which can be erected at a cost of material of less than $300. Such a building would be a monument to the industrial classes of this city, and give comfortable quarters to the Labor Commisioner.

Trusting this will receive your immediate and favorable attention, we are respectfully yours

Western Central Labor Union W. H. Middleton, Sec'y

991785

Mr. President

Your Committee on Labor to whom was referred Petition of Labor Commissioner for Allowance for Extra Help, report that we believe the management of the Bureau is in good hands but in view of the compensation allowed and the fact that the necessity for additional help is but semi occasionally we must report adversely on same.

[STAMP: PASSED H. OF D. NOV 28 1894]

James Gleeson CHAIRMAN

W. Chapman Chapman's name erased by request Frank W. Goodhue

Date adopted ____________ 189 ____

9921785

To the Honorable City Council of the city of Seattle

Gentlemen:

When the Free Employment Office was established last spring there was strong doubt in the minds of many people as to is usefulness or practicality. It has now been in operation less than six months, and, during that time, there has been an increase of business, which, considering the general depression, may fairly be called phenomenal.

The following figures show the growth of business from month to month:

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