EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DECEMBER 7, 1906.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. TAYLOR, of Ohio, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 21408.]

The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 21408) to amend an act entitled "An act to regulate the keeping of employment agencies in the District of Columbia where fees are charged for procuring employment or situations," approved June nineteenth, nineteen hundred and six, report the same back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to provide proper penalty for the violation of certain sections of the act of June 19, 1906, regulating the keeping of employment agencies in the District of Columbia, and to thus enable the Commissioners to better enforce the law. Its necessity is explained in the following communication from the Commissioners of the District of Columbia:

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
Washington, December 6, 1906.

DEAR SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to transmit herewith a proposed amendment to the law passed during the last session of Congress as Public-No. 248 and entitled "An act to regulate the keeping of employment agencies in the District of Columbia where fees are charged for procuring employment or situations."

The amendment is self-explanatory and provides a penalty for the violation of any of the provisions of the act. An examination of the statute shows that a penalty is incorporated in the law for the violation of the provisions of section 10, relating to the character of employer, but no penalty is provided for the infraction of the other provisions. Reference to the records of the Commissioners' office shows that the report made by them upon H. R. 17511 contained a general penalty clause, but it seems to have been omitted when the bill became a law. The Commissioners have the honor to suggest that a

better enforcement of the law can be secured if the proposed amendment is adopted, and they therefore recommend favorable action at the earliest possible moment.

Very respectfully,

HENRY B. F. MACFARLAND,

President of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia. Hon. J. W. BABCOCK,

Chairman Committee on the District of Columbia,

House of Representatives.

Section 11, when amended as proposed in the legislation herewith reported, will read as follows:

ENFORCEMENT.

SEC. 11. That the enforcement of this act shall be intrusted to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. Complaints against any such licensed persons shall be made orally or in writing to the said Commissioners, and reasonable notice thereof, not less than one day, shall be given in writing to said licensed person by serving upon him a concise statement of the facts constituting the complaint, and a hearing shall be had before the said Commissioners within one week from the date of the filing of the complaint, and no adjournment shall be taken for a period longer than one week. A daily calendar of all hearings shall be kept by the said Commissioners and shall be posted in a conspicuous place in their public office for at least one day before the date of such hearings. The said Commissioners shall render their decision within eight days from the time the matter is finally submitted to them. Said Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall keep a record of all such complaints and hearings. The said Commissioners may refuse to issue and shall revoke any license for any good cause shown, within the meaning and purpose of this act, and when it is shown to their satisfaction that any licensed person, either before or after conviction, is guilty of any illegal act in connection with the conduct of said business or in violation of this law it shall be the duty of the said Commissioners to revoke the license of such person; but notice of the charges shall be presented and reasonable opportunity shall be given said licensed person to be heard in his defense. Whenever for any cause such license is revoked, said Commissioners shall not issue another license to said licensed person until the expiration of at least six months from the date of revocation of such license. Every violation of any provision of this act, except as provided in section ten, shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed twenty-five dollars, and in default thereof the person or persons so offending shall be committed for a period not to exceed thirty days, and this penalty shall also include such violations of section ten for which no penalty is prescribed in said section ten.

The said Commissioners shall cause the corporation counsel to institute criminal proceedings for the enforcement of this act before any court of competent Jurisdiction.

59TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2d Session.

LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

DECEMBER 7, 1906.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. BINGHAM, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 21574.]

In presenting the bill making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908, the Committee on Appropriations submit the following in explanation thereof:

The estimates on which the bill is based will be found on pages 9-95 and 140-151 of the Book of Estimates for 1908, and aggregate $31,215,525.80, of which amount there is recommended in the bill $30,529,853.80, a reduction of $685,652 under said estimates.

The appropriations for the same purposes for the current fiscal year, including $448,066 carried in the sundry civil, deficiency, and other acts, aggregated $30,168,485.30, being $361,368.50 less than is recommended in the accompanying bill for the service of the fiscal year 1908. The whole number of salaries specifically provided for in the bill is 14,727 or 202 less than the number estimated for and 29 more than the number provided for in the law for the current year.

The specific changes in the number or grade of officers or employees of the Government and their rate of compensation as compared with the current law and without reference to transfers from one bureau to another, recommended in the bill are as follows:

SENATE.

The bill appropriates for officers, clerks, and other employees in the service of the Senate in the same terms as the law for the curient year, except that for session employees the usual increase is made, growing out of the longer term of their employment during the ensuing session, as compared with the present short session of Congress.

The appropriation for miscellaneous expenses, including personal services for the Senate, is reduced from $100,000 to $50,000, being the same amount as is recommended for like expenses of the House.

CAPITOL POLICE.

Two special officers at $1,200 each are provided for in lieu of two privates at $1,050 each.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Office of the Speaker. The salary of the Secretary to the Speaker is increased from $3,000 to $4,000.

Office of the Clerk.-The salary of the Chief Clerk is increased from $3,600 to $4,000, and the allowance of that official for stenographic and typewriter services is increased from $250 to $500.

Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.—The salaries of the deputy Sergeant-at-Arms in charge of pairs and of the clerk in charge of pairs are increased from $1,400 to $1,600 each.

Minority employees. The additional compensation to the special chief page in charge of pairs is increased from $500 to $700.

Clerk hire to Members and Delegates.-The allowance to Members and Delegates for clerk hire necessarily employed by them in the discharge of their official and representative duties is increased from $1,200 to $1,500 per annum, and the requirement that each Member and Delegate certify that they have paid or agreed to pay said sum is omitted from the terms of the appropriation.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

The salary of the Public Printer is increased from $4,500 to $6,000; a deputy public printer, who shall perform the duties of the chief clerk and have supervision of buildings is authorized at $3,600 instead of a chief clerk at $2,750; the salary of the clerk in charge of the Congressional Record at the Capitol is increased from $2,000 to $2,500; and, in accordance with a provision of law enacted in the last legisla tive, etc., appropriation act, specific appropriations are made for certain other employees in the Government Printing Office, who are

now authorized and being paid from the general appropriation for public printing and binding.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

The salaries of three assistants in charge, respectively, of binding, bibliography, and the Smithsonian deposit are increased from $1,200 to $1,500 each, and in the superintendent's office a reduction is made of 2 watchmen, at $720 each; and 2 additional check boys, at $360 each, are provided for.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

An additional clerk at $1,400 is authorized.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

An increase is recommended as follows: Two clerks at $1,800 each, 4 clerks at $1,600 each, 2 clerks at $1,400 each, 2 clerks at $1,200 each, 4 clerks at $1,000 each, 2 messengers at $840 each, and 1 assistant telephone switchboard operator at $600.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

Division of bookkeeping and warrants.-One additional clerk at $1,600 and 1 additional clerk at $1,400 are provided for.

Division of customs.-The salary of the chief of division is increased from $2,750 to $3,000.

Division of public moneys.-The salary of the chief of division is increased from $2,500 to $3,000, and provision is made for 1 additional clerk at $1,600.

Division of loans and currency.-Five additional paper counters and laborers at $620 each are provided for.

Office of disbursing clerk.-One clerk at $1,600 instead of a clerk at $1,400 is provided for.

Office of the Auditor for the Post-Office Department.-An increase is recommended of four clerks at $1,800 each, 2 clerks at $1,600 each, 15 operatives or counters at $720 each, and 15 operatives or counters at $660 each.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.-Three additional counters at $660 each and 2 additional messenger boys at $360 each are provided for; and in the force employed in connection with the national currency, the salary of the superintendent is increased from $2,200 to $2,500, and provision is made for 3 additional counters at $660 each and 1 messenger boy at $360.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing.-An increase is recommended of 2 clerks at $1,200 each, 6 clerks at $780 each, 1 assistant messenger at $720, and 5 laborers at $540 each.

Secret-service division.-An assistant chief, who shall discharge the duties of a chief clerk, at $3,000, is provided for, instead of a chief clerk at $2,500.