St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-15

toners are QlSSatlSneu.
whats the wages?"
Three dollars and twenty-five cents a
week until you learn, then % cents
week more till you get up to S4.25
week.
Cant I ever earn more than that?"
"That's regular wages, but, as the firm
like to keep the same help right along.
after you prove faithful at s4.25 week,
WE MAKE PRESENT"
"That's good; how much is it?"
"We begin to lay by rs cents week
extra for you. At the end of a year we
give you $50 as present, if your work
is satisfactory"
"That's the same as S. a week for that
year, isn't it?" | remarked.
sob, yes, it amounts to that, but you
are to consider your wages S4.25 week,
and the balance simply as an instance
of our liberality"
eff that rs cents a week were coming
to me, and | should leave during the
year, l suppose I'd get what was due OF
that bonuS%
mo, you'd forfeit all claim to that"
Dropping that part of the question, l
asked:
"Will 1 have to stand all day at
work?"
mo, we provide seats, but the girls
don't care much about Them"
Work ten hours day?"
Eyes, sometimes we ask the girls to
stay until $50 in the evening""
''That's hard" said, ''but of course
you pay time and half for time after
o'clock"
''That bookkeeper's eyebrows went
up out of sight, under her bang, for
amazement at my "cheek," as she eX-
pressed it.
''Then you only pay regular rates
for overtime?" suggested.
mo, we don't do anything of the
Sort" she snapped; you get your
regular weekly pay, and stay at night
until the working is done; you can't
take time for supper, either"
[ had pretty nearly made up my
DIDN'T WANT THAT JOB
at any wages, but went into the laundry
to hear what the girls had to say about it.
The working department was just
back of the Office. 1t was dark and
dirty where the soiled clothes were
washed, but fairly clean when the
bundles were put up.
| couldn't find marker who had
stayed long enough to receive the
promised bonus.
Girls, why don't you sit at your
work." asked. Don't you have seats
furnished"
The girls laughed. why, do you
think some one is going, to bring you
the clothes to mark and take them away
when you get through, and you rooSt on
stool all day?" they said.
1--WE have to run around pretty lively
all day or we'd not get the work DONE"
'Then you can't sit at your work"'
"Of course not"
''Do you work later than 1880 in the
EVENING""
81 should say So" came the chorus.
sWhen we're rushed with work we stay
till o'clock often, and sometimes till II
o'clock at night, without any supper.
At any rate, we don't leave until the
work is DONE"
"Another thing about laundry work."
said girl who had worked at it a long
time; "when you begin the boss always
SAYS girl must give him two weeks
notice before quitting"
whats wrong about that?' asked.
"Why, girl may be hard up and con-
sent to work for low wages. She asks
for a raise; the boss won't give it; then,
when another situation offers, she can't
go without giving two weeks notice.
When the two weeks are up the situa-
| ton she was promised will be filled by
some one else. So, you see, boss can
keep girl working for any wages he
pleases and shut her off from anything
| BETTER"
eff girl leaves without notice, what
| then?'
"Why, then she loses the weeks
| wages her employer has held back"
| Dor
| in Simpson & HendersOn'S is on the
same floor with the workers, not even
| separated by partition. The walls
| and floor were of stone, the floor con-
| stantly wet with the drip from the ma
| chimes. The room had one redeeming fea-
| ture, it was well lighted. The women
| in this department were foreigners,
hardly speaking any English. One
| said:
ave get 95 cents a day."
care you paid that when you be-
| gin?"
mo. We get so cents day for long
| time"
Work five days week?"
"Yah.'
"Your feet get wet on this foor?"
eyes, always"
In broken English they told me the
|
winter, and no one could work there
long. The work about these washing
machines is heavy and laborious, seem
| ing fit work for men rather than women.
| 1t is doubtful whether a man could be
found to do the work for S. a week.
The proprietors would probably say
they couldn't afford to pay any more.
Next week / will give some figures
| showing the price received from Gus
toners as contrasted with the price paid
to help.
Up Stairs were the ironing and polish
ing machines. These machines have
hollow cylinders heated by gas jets
within. The gas escapes in great guam
titles and is noticeable everywhere in
the room.
docs the smell of gas make you
sick?" asked one girl at a machine.
"Not now; I've worked so long I'm
| used to it."
''Do you find it hard work to stand at
that machine all day?"
"Tisn't only standing that kills girls
in laundry; we have to work heavy
treadle with one foot and keep our hands
| flying to adjust the work."
| There are many other conditions
which make life weary for laundry
girl, but l will speak of them next
| week. EVA GAY,