The New York herald., 1876-08-16
WORKING WOMEN.

THEIR PRESENT CONDITION AND FUTURE PDos-
PEeTs DIscUssED-LEss SUFFERING AMONG
FEMALE WORKERS THAN AMONG MEN-THE
OUTLOOK HOPEFUL.
While the number Of unemployed laborcrs is
doubtedy great, compared with former years, the
cannot be said with respect to working women.
In times OF financial aud commercial depression,
when instances Of suffering and want witnessed
upon all sides, the natural thought would be that, In
common with their brothers, female operatives and
clerks would find It difficult TO procure employ menL
Such, however, appears not to be the AS COM
pared with former years the number of unemployed
working women In this centennial year IS not SO much
in excess OF previous would give the sug-
gestion OF widespread want or course even
OF the greatest prosperity aud activity in trade there
are without work certain number OF women who
dependen. upon their hands for support; but for
skilled operatives there present actually
demand.
visit paid by "a HERALD reporter TO many large
business houses employing females showed conclusively
that instead OF cutting down expenses and dschargng
employees they arc contemplating increasing their
force Indeed the superintendent Of one OF the arg
est houses on Broadway said:-"we havo about
l2Co saesw omen, and could nnd places for 100 moro
to-day If they could do the right kind Of work" Nor
is this solitary testimony In tho largest establish
ments the same heard They not reducing their
force they have down saares but all the ten
denotes arc TO an increase OF numbers
Inquiries at Arnold Il Constabie's Brought out the
following iacts:--"A great many hands OF
reduction IN our forces than accustomed TO
make every summer Neither are their salaries
duCed, and We don't intend they shall DC :"
CHEERFUL PROSPECT.
Substantially the same story was told at Stewards
They employ about LOO women, including every de-
purment and are inclined TO increase rather than d.
mnsh their siock. Al Lord Taylor's 1t said
That there had been no reduction OF the female force
When undcr Iu pressure they employ from i5O 500
hands, although al TINS period OF the year their
ber was somewhat esscncd. This was not exceptional
II always their CUSTOM but since the so-called
"hard tinics'' they had made no reduction number
salaries In TACT, they contemplated increasing thcr
list oi female workers tue coming season.
j. Z. Johnston gave the same testimony. They
employ about 800 women. whose salaries range from
S. 10 Sl5 some OF the cutters salary large
as 81, ,UOO ycary.
L. IL. Macy's establishment certainly betokans any,
thing but hard times" " rnore that they
were employing larger iorcc than ever, and were al
roady engaging additional assistance for the fall
trade.
At james McCreory's tho reporter was told that the
hard times had made difference with them the
number OF their star of employees or their salaries.
A visit to large number Of smaller establishments
but confirmed the stories told at the larger stores as
above quoted.
This encouraging and cheerful state of affairs is
hardly confirmed ut the Working Women's Protective
Union, located in Bleecker street. Mrs ferrer,
the superintendent, said In response in-
quiry to the number OF applications Tor
assistance. that during the present year
10000 applications for employment had been received,
and for 900 OF the applicants situations had been
found. OF late the applications had increased She
thought The outlook very bad unless trade revived In
stances OF great suffering and want under her
daily observation.
A PIrIABLE CASE.
One she cited. 1t that Of poor
She had purchased sewing machine to be PAID for In
instalmeuis. Her limited mad expired and in ac-
cordanec with their usage tho company made demand
Tor full payment the return Of the machine.
Through the influence OF Mrs FVrrcr additional time
was granted but the poor was unable to ob,ain
work. Her husband and children tell sick, the machine
stood dlo in the corner and she, skilled seansress,
obliged to make application at the Protective Union
Tor scrubDng, saying she and her family had
days without food. Even that was most difficult to
lind This is but OF many similar
MIS- Ferrer says also that not only the unculti-
waited poor who make application for work, but this
year the moro refined and respectable asking tor
employment There is still another phase OF dlsress
One oi the good works performed by this Protective
Union is To assist working women III their disputes
with employers Iu the Of reccv-
ing their lust wages the union has engaged
lawyers to prosecute the CLAIMS. This year tho
calls for assistance this respect have been greater
than before. In many Instances the employers,
while admitting the justness Of the claims their
utter inability TO meet them Some OF these
plants against responsible firms, who recognizing
their duty to their employees, promise TO pay in small
sums per week.
CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS
II will thus be that the statement by Mrs.
Ferfcr is in direct contradiction TO those Of the
large houses on Broadway: This may be accounted Tor
nothing but skilled labor, aud that is always
demand. Tho increase Of applications the
union may also be accounted for by the explanation
that the wives mothers sisters and daughters OF
employed men lind 1t now necessary TO endeavor to
their families by seeking that labor which they
would not have been compelled 10 perform had their
natural providers been able to obtain employment
St. the number OF unemployed working women and
the want and suffering is not great as might De sup
posed by one judging from the number OF idle men in
this CITY,