St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-22
Among the Girls Who Toll in
the Steam Laundries Of
Minneapolis.
Beal's the Place Where Poor
Girls Work and Get No
Pay for 1t,
One Laundry Where the Girl
Help Is Treated as 1t
Should Be.
Why Girls Go Astray--Charae-
ter No Object--Observa-
tons of Laundry Life.

| i ! ]. ! /
w,N MY last letter there
"a E @ were still several
MI @s@ M things left over to be
IA W WI noted in regard to the
&&M ~ s@ laundry girls. The
WN condition and wages of
II * [%C9the girls in many laun-
n ~ dries are nearly alike.
Nh MAf@ Wondering why it
HW .~sWi was thus, was told
us &W that a union exists
&~SaSEoj among the employers
so that they may the
more readily dictate
wages; also that a system of black
listing obtains favor by which a
girl discharged from one laundry, ii her
employer so chooses, is unable to re-
ceive another place. Although they
had no special proof of it; yet the girls.
in many cases, felt sure that such a
union does exist.
In view OF this belief, 1 suggested
that the girls organize themselves, for
protection. But the girls seemed to
think that their employers, though Civ
ing the example themselves, wouldn't
favor such a move.
| found the Union laundry, on Sixth
avenue south, near Third street, an eX-
ception to others, for the reason that
the girls are paid S1.25 day, which is
more than is paid to ordinary help in
any other laundry which visited; also,
the proprietor does not require girl to
give any notice before leaving. New
and improved machinery was being
put in order the day l visited
and no one had leisure to talk,
but the girls seemed satisfied, saying
that their employer was always cOurte-
Gus and pleasant to his help and not
above sharing the hard work with them.
SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY.
Charles Beal's laundry on Lake street,
near Lyndale avenue. is also remarkable
for the reason that Mr.. Beal neglectS or
perhaps forgets to pay his help. at
another laundry found girl who had
worked for Mr.. Beal. She said: "Mr.
Beal owes me $11; every time go there
and ask for it he says he is a little short
of money"
Another in broken English said: ''He
owes me S25, and gave me note (prob-
ably check which was no good. l
went to lawyer, but he couldn't do
anything about it unless l could pay
some money down for his work. didn't
have no money, so the lawyer couldn't
do anything about IT'D
| found still another who said Beal
owed her few dollars.
'But why didn't you demand your
pay every week?' I asked.
81 always did, but he would tell us ne
was short,of money and would make it
all right next week; so it went Oh Just
that way, he holding back few dollars
each week till quit"
"One of these girls said: I'll tell you
how he works it, he always makes girl
leaves, and then he won't pay her for
those two weeks"
''Are you Sure""
eyes; l knew of twenty-three cases
of that sort while worked there, and
there must be good many more now,
for, if you notice, he often advertiSeS for
help"
A PERSONAL. INSPECTION.
Finding several others who had little
claims against the same gentleman,
went out to Lake street and talked to
him. His establishment and surround
ings were as dingy as could be expected.
He didn't need any help just then, SO [
had no opportunity of personally test
ing his honesty. Some girls felt badly
about losing their earnings in that way,
and would willingly sue, but had no
money to pay lawyers fees.
Among laundrymen he seemed to be
in disfavOr also, they claiming he would
take contracts at lower figure than
others could, because he would not have
the expense of paying full wages for his
help.
A MODEL LAUNDRY.
"Next went to the Hennepin steam
laundry ON First avenue north, near
Washington avenue. The appearance
of this laundry was a surprise to me
after my recent experiences. 1t was
clean and well ventilated. Thes build
ing is three stories high, thoroughly
lighted, neatly finished and painted.
Broad stairways lead from one floor to
another. The wash room was on the
first floor, we'll ventilated and the wood
floor was extremely clean. Here, as in
other places, the girls stood all day at
their work and the average wages we're
the same as elsewhere. All over the es-
Enlistment was the utmost neatneSS
and order. How it could be kept so
was mystery to me, for / could plainly
trace the course of my muddy rubbers
over the immaculate floors. The girls
told me they scrubbed and cleaned on
days when work was slack. | had heard
that the girls worked overtime to keep
the establishment neat, but this rumor
was not confirmed. The only COM
plant that | heard was that employees
were not allowed to do their own wash
ing and ironing free of charge here as
they do in other places. Late last week
[ received courteous letter from Mr..
Lawrence, the proprietor, inviting me
to visit his establishment and ask all the
'proper" questions ] wished. But it
came late, my visit had already
been made. This laundry is one of the
few places I have seen in my visit
which seemed to aim to make the work.
shop either cheerful or healthy for
girls to work.
Naturally the question arises, if one
employer can afford to furnish good ac-
commodations for his help and make it
pay, why can't all do so? 1t is likely
that it would pay too, because no girl
can do good or quick work in dirty,
cramped and poorly ventilated rooms.
| In the course of my travels met one
| girl who had worked five years in a
| laundry and was just leaving on ac-
| count of ill-health. She said:
DISABLED AT TWENTY.
81 left school and began to work in a
laundry when was fifteen years old
and was quite strong, but during the
last two years have been obliged to quit
work every two OF three months to rest
and pay big doctors bill for treatment
| Then after I'd work while l would
have to quit again. Now l don't know
what I'll do"
'Do you live at home?"
| yes, but my father died lately, my
mother earns something by taking in
| sewing and l have a sister earning S.