The Labor enquirer., 1888-04-14
The Labor Commissioner Re-
ceiyes Answers from Sew
eral OF Them.
PROSTITUTION INEVI7ApIr
stitch eh N Poverty
rIril. Enrlch
ftH
labor Commissioner


The printed forms we're in the
nature of questions relating to
hours Of work, pay, treatment, etc.
The following are some of the
replies;
A laundry worker said:
Our present employer takes a
kindly interest in our welfare and
We are we'll paid for our work in
comparison to the wages received
by employees in other laundries.
| should like to express my views
in regard to housework in this
city, as | have had experience in
that kind of work. The wages
are usually $50 per month, hours
from 5 a. m. till s o'clock at night,
often later. The girls room is
usually cheerless and uncomforta-
bic, and without the necessary
amount of bed clothing. Then it
is often very difficult to get the
wages due. There are three par
ties owing me small amounts for
housework done two years ago. ]
give my own experience but mine
is not an isolated case; there are
many cases like it."
II want to say that hope some
thing will be done to help work
ing women to get wages enough
from their different occupations
to live comfortably and honestly.
| fare so much better than many
others that | do not want to COM
plain one bit, yet ! should be so
glad TO be able to save something
more toward a rainy day and
old age. My expenses, washing
and all, come to $50 per month,
and ] can save SIS per month, as
long as | can make present ward
robe answer. Even cheap cloth
ing costs like everything. ! get
tired every day and long for some
thing to look forward to besides
this steady routine. What can
one dor"
A shirt fnisher said: ii learned
my trade as shirt hnishcr at Troy,
New York. My earnings there
were SI4 per week for nine hours
work, but here | have to work
from ten to thirteen hours per day
Tor $40 per week. Last fall the
wages were cut down to SS per
week. We refused to work for
that and Cinnamon took our
places, but could not do the work
satisfactorily. so we were again
employed at our old wages. Our
pay is small for the number of
hours We work, yet il we object
the Chinese are ready to take our
places again"
a clerk said: Il have been em-
pIoyed at my present occupation
only a few days. When ! first
came to Denver | worked as do
nestle IN a private family. and
know that in many OF them the
poor girls are mistreated. ! had
10 get up at quarter to 5 in the
morning and work hard all day
until half-past s at night. ! got
81; per month. My health being
poor | had to leave my work, and
have spent more than three times
my wages in paying board and
doctor bills. 1t is hard for a lone
woman in Denver to get a fur
nIshed room, and that is one rea-
son why so many women are run
ming the streets. They hardly
ever get friendly word ora help
ing hand from even their own
SEX
a seamstress replied: my
parents live in Ireland and are en-
trely dependent on myself and
my sister for support. ! served
an apprenticeship Of three months
seep years since. am good
seam,tres and work hard. ! do
not take ten minutes at noon
No matter bow hard ] try ] can
not make otersI per day. l pay
rent for r,sehine 81. soper month.
Am not able 70 ride or to afford