The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-06

icing reported to this Christian proprietor.
Most OF the girls, In attempting 10 earn q
| few pennies more, cut this hour short, Civ
ing themselves only time TO swallow the
scanty allowance. which 10 never sufficient
to satlsfy the terrible gnawings Of hunger
| experienced by these poor victims Of hard
work and inadequate remuneration.
! While examining one Of these workrooms
an incident occurred, a. amusing 40 IL was
suggestive. A young, fresh, sensible look
ing girl entered TO inquire about work and
prices. "Phewp said she, "open Q win
dow; should thinS you would all die here"
No reply wac made. The foreman looked
scorchingly around at the heads for q mo-
ment turned away from work to survey this
pleasant intruder.
SHOW long have you been here ?" advanc-
ing to tae one nearest her.
"AbOut two months" she replied, hesita-
tingly, turning frightened glance In the d.
rection Of the Duichman-
Sand were you sick before you worked
here"
81 am not sick, she replied"
ANY information YOU wants, miss, gives
YOU growled the irate foreman.
"Well, then, SIR, how much can these girls
make day ?''
"von collier day If they works."
"Now," said she, flashing him q contemp-
tnous look, II have been trying to find work
for two days and have vIeitei any quantity
OF just such dog kennels as this but before
would commit suicide here by slow de-
grees I'd jump off the dock ard expedite
matters good morning, slr," and she was
gone.
just so long as such prices are paid for
honest labor, just so long as women are
packed together in close, unventilated work
rooms, will the alarming prostitution exist
ing in this city prevail. Rest and some
thing to eat are great temptations to the
tired and hungry, and it is not surprising
that such taskmasters as some Of Gothsm's
merchants are known to be should be desert
ed for those who offe- the comforts Of life
AS remuneration. Is it wonderful that many
eat, drink and rest before awaking 70 the
consciousness Of guilt? Is it strange that
disgrace losses its sting wien these victims,
racked by despair, find every door leading
TO a comfoTta Die existence closed against
them?
Rude men and police officers instead Of
protecting these girls from insult on heir
way TO and from work add to the misery
constantly caused by low witticisms and
disgusting remarks. "How are you sisY''
"The top o. the morning to you, bright
eyes ;" "Does your mother know you're
outg" are among the least obnoxious of the
salutations. IL is not uncommon for these
brave defenders of the peace to chase for a
block or two home returning girls, peltihg
them with snowballs, attracting the atLen
ton of corner ioafers, ready on every occa-
sion to Insult unprotected women. Police
men are overloaded If detected in taking q
drink while on duty OF being off beat, bat
DO report ever reaches tbs ears of their su-
periors in regard to their sly treatment II
work Z girls. IL is not necessary TO ask
why" for the low price set upon woman.
hood by very many of the public officials
themselves brings its own stunning answer
1t is exceedingly difficult TO divine rem
edy for this GaplOrable condition Of affairs
among tae workingwomen. IL does not ap-
pear 10 be within the scope or legislation &c
accomplish much. Nearly all of these wO.
men are paid for the work they perform
they do not receive regular weekly salaries
and therefore the Jaw that wOuli compulso-
rily shorten their rs of labor would aisC
shorten their net earnings proportionately
II would be contrary to public policy Il
have a rate OF compensation fixed by Law
for certain labor, as the fluctuations of tbs
market would clash with such regulation
Il is competition, which is said 10 be th'
''life Of trade" which makes the ratio Of
compensation so small and proves to be &
a great extent the death of the tradeswo
man. But Of one thing the legislative pow
err might justly take cognizance, and that il
I Of the worxroOms. These wise and jus
enactment would and could require 20 b,
properly lighted, properly heated and prop
erly ventilated apartments. Perhaps tn
only way OF regulating compensation woul'
be the passage Of an act providing that th'
/ pay of the workwOman should be q certail
( fixed percentage on the value of the manu-
I featured article. As the market fiuctuate,
50 Of course would the wages Of the employ
vary, but if family and justly estimated b!
the terms of the bill, the compensati Oh
would at all times be stair and Just" to
wards the laborer and the employer.